The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) permission to access and analyse electronic devices recovered from the residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik approved the order on Thursday after considering an ex-parte motion filed by ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha. The application sought the court’s authorisation for investigators to inspect the devices, conduct forensic examinations, and extract relevant data as part of an ongoing corruption investigation involving the former governor.
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria, ICPC operatives had earlier recovered several electronic items during a search at El-Rufai’s Abuja residence. The seized materials reportedly include multiple storage devices, mobile phones, a laptop, and other digital equipment believed to contain information relevant to the commission’s investigation.
Among the items listed are a Sony HD-EGS storage device, an ITB Transcend storage device, a Toshiba storage device, Samsung and Nokia mobile phones, a Blackberry device, a Google IDEOS phone, a Samsung storage device (SPO802N), a Remarkable tablet, an Apple MacBook Pro, a Seagate FreeAgent Desk external drive, a ZTE mobile phone, ten flash drives, and a microSD card.
The application forms part of a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2026, titled Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai. At the same time, the former governor has filed a separate fundamental rights enforcement suit challenging the legality of the search conducted at his residence.
In the suit filed on February 20 by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages over what he described as an unlawful invasion of his home. He argued that the February 19 operation at his residence located at 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy.
He also requested a court order declaring any evidence obtained from the search inadmissible in future proceedings. Additionally, the former governor demanded the immediate return of all items seized during the operation, alongside a detailed inventory.
However, the ICPC maintained that the search was conducted based on a valid warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day. The commission explained that the operation, carried out with the support of the Nigeria Police Force, took place between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m.
According to the commission, the exercise was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza, and his son, Mohammed, and was carried out in compliance with due legal procedures. Authorities have therefore urged the court to dismiss the former governor’s suit, insisting that the search was lawful and part of a legitimate investigation.
The matter remains pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja as investigations continue.
