A Federal High Court in Abuja has authorised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to examine electronic devices recovered from the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the request on Thursday, March 12, after considering an ex parte application filed by the anti-corruption agency through its counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
While presenting the application, the lawyer asked the court to permit the commission to open and inspect the devices for forensic examination and extraction of data as part of an ongoing investigation involving the former governor.
The devices were retrieved by ICPC operatives during a search carried out at El-Rufai’s residence in the Federal Capital Territory.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik allowed the commission to analyse the materials stored on the devices.
These include public records, WhatsApp conversations, text messages, photographs, call logs and other digital information that may be relevant to the investigation.
The items listed in the order include a Sony HD-EGS storage device, a 1TB Transcend storage device, a Toshiba storage device, a Samsung mobile phone, a Nokia mobile phone (N958GB), a Blackberry mobile phone and a Google IDEOS phone.
Other devices include a Samsung storage device (SPO802N), a Remarkable tablet, an Apple MacBook Pro, a Seagate FreeAgent Desk external drive, a ZTE mobile phone, 10 flash drives and a Microcell memory card.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2026, is between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai has filed a separate fundamental rights enforcement suit before the same court challenging the search of his residence.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, dated February 20 and filed through his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), the former governor asked the court to declare that the search conducted at his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 violated his constitutional rights.
He argued that the operation carried out by ICPC operatives and police officers breached his rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution.
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El-Rufai also urged the court to rule that any evidence obtained from the search should be inadmissible in any legal proceedings against him.
In addition, he asked the court to restrain the respondents from relying on any of the seized items in any investigation or prosecution.
He further requested an order directing the ICPC and the police to return all items recovered from his residence along with a detailed inventory.
The former governor is also seeking ₦1 billion as general, exemplary and aggravated damages for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
However, in a counter-affidavit, the ICPC said the search was carried out following a petition received against El-Rufai.
The commission explained that the petition prompted an investigation which led to the operation at the residence.
According to the agency, its operatives conducted the search based on a valid warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37pm and 3:56pm.
The ICPC also stated that officers of the Nigeria Police Force accompanied its operatives during the exercise, adding that the search was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
The police, in a separate counter-affidavit sworn to by Inspector Ewa Anthony, also defended the search.
They argued that the police have the legal authority to investigate crimes and prosecute offenders. They added that the operation at the former governor’s residence was conducted in line with a valid search warrant issued by a competent court.
The police further told the court that all procedures required by law were followed while executing the warrant, and accused El-Rufai of attempting to use the court process to block an investigation and possible prosecution.
They urged the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.