A Federal High Court of Nigeria sitting 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 El‑Rufai.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order on Thursday after hearing an ex parte application filed by ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
The anti-graft agency had requested the court’s approval to open and inspect the electronic devices for forensic analysis as part of its ongoing investigation involving the former governor.
Granting the application, Justice Abdulmalik authorised the commission to examine the contents of the devices, including WhatsApp messages, text messages, pictures, call logs and other data.
Items listed for analysis include storage devices, several mobile phones, flash drives, a MacBook Pro, a tablet and other digital equipment reportedly recovered during a search of El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja.
The devices were seized by ICPC operatives during a search operation carried out at the former governor’s home in Abuja.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2026, is between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and El-Rufai.
El-Rufai Challenges Search
Meanwhile, El-Rufai has filed a separate suit before the same court challenging the legality of the search conducted at his residence.
In the fundamental rights enforcement suit, the former governor named the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrates’ Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation as respondents.
Through his lawyer Oluwole Iyamu, El-Rufai is seeking ₦1 billion in damages, arguing that the February 19 search violated his constitutional rights, including dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy.
He also asked the court to declare that any evidence obtained during the search should be inadmissible in court and requested the return of all items seized from his residence.
In response, the ICPC said the operation was based on a petition received against the former governor, which prompted an investigation.
The agency stated that the search was carried out under a valid warrant issued on February 18, and executed the following day with officers of the Nigeria Police Force present. According to the commission, the operation was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El‑Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El‑Rufai.
The police also defended the action, arguing that the search was conducted in accordance with legal procedures and within their statutory powers to investigate criminal offences.
Background
El-Rufai’s legal troubles reportedly began after he returned to Nigeria from Cairo, Egypt, on February 12, 2026.
He later honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and was detained before being released on administrative bail. Shortly after, he was taken into custody by the ICPC.
In a related development, the Department of State Services has filed a separate suit at the FCT High Court accusing El-Rufai of allegedly wire-tapping the telephone line of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
