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.
The order was issued on Thursday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik following an ex-parte application filed by the anti-graft agency and argued by its counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
In granting the request, the court authorised the commission to inspect the seized devices, conduct forensic examinations, and extract relevant data as part of an ongoing investigation involving the former governor. The analysis may include reviewing documents, WhatsApp conversations, text messages, call logs, photographs and other digital records stored on the devices.
Court filings indicated that about 14 electronic devices were recovered by ICPC operatives during a search of El-Rufai’s Abuja residence. The items include storage devices, mobile phones, an Apple MacBook Pro laptop, a Remarkable tablet, external drives and several flash drives.
The application was filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2026, titled Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
The development is linked to a broader investigation by the ICPC concerning allegations involving the former governor. However, El-Rufai has separately challenged the legality of the search conducted at his residence.
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In a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed through his lawyer, the former governor argued that the search of his residence on February 19 violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy. He is seeking ₦1 billion in damages and an order restraining authorities from using any items seized during the search as evidence against him.
The ICPC, however, maintained that the operation was conducted pursuant to a valid search warrant issued by a competent court and executed with the support of officers of the Nigeria Police Force. The commission also said the search was witnessed by members of El-Rufai’s family.
The court’s ruling now allows investigators to proceed with forensic examination of the devices as part of their ongoing probe, while the former governor’s challenge to the search continues before the court.
