El-Rufai probe deepens as Court grants ICPC permission to analyse devices seized from the ex-Gov’s Abuja mansion
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court order allowing it to access and conduct forensic analysis on electronic devices recovered from the residence of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The order was granted on Thursday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja following an ex-parte motion filed by the anti-corruption agency.
Counsel to the commission, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, urged the court to permit investigators to access and analyse the contents of the devices as part of an ongoing probe involving the former governor.
Granting the application, the court authorised the ICPC to inspect, conduct forensic examination and extract data from the devices to aid its investigation.
Investigators reportedly recovered about 14 electronic devices during a search conducted at El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja.
The items include multiple storage devices, mobile phones, external hard drives, flash drives and a laptop.
Among the devices listed by the commission are a Sony HD-EGS storage device, Transcend ITB storage device, Toshiba storage device, Samsung and Nokia mobile phones, a Blackberry device, Google IDEOS phone, Samsung storage device, a Remarkable tablet, an Apple MacBook Pro, a Seagate external drive, ZTE mobile phone, flash drives and a Microcell memory card.
The motion is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2026, filed between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and El-Rufai.
El-Rufai challenges search, demands N1bn damages
Meanwhile, El-Rufai is currently before the same court challenging the legality of the search carried out at his residence and seeking ₦1 billion in damages for alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, filed by his counsel Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), the former governor is asking the court to declare the raid on his residence at 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, as unlawful.
El-Rufai argued that the search carried out on February 19 by the ICPC and officers of the Nigeria Police Force violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution.
He is also seeking a court order restraining authorities from relying on or presenting any evidence obtained during the search, insisting the operation was carried out using an invalid warrant.
The former governor further asked the court to compel the ICPC and the police to return all items seized from his residence and provide a detailed inventory of the recovered materials.
ICPC, police defend operation
However, the ICPC, in its counter-affidavit, told the court that the search was conducted based on a petition and a valid search warrant issued on February 18.
According to the commission, its operatives executed the warrant on February 19 between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. at the Asokoro residence.
The agency added that the operation was carried out in the presence of El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
The police, in a separate counter-affidavit filed by Inspector Ewa Anthony, also defended the operation, insisting the search warrant was lawfully issued by a competent court and executed in line with established legal procedures.
Security authorities further argued that the former governor’s suit was an attempt to obstruct an ongoing investigation, urging the court to dismiss the case.
