A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has authorized the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to access and examine electronic devices recovered from the home of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Delivered on Thursday, 12th March, 2025, by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, this ruling came via an ex-parte motion filed by ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha, aimed at facilitating forensic analysis for an ongoing probe into the ex-governor.
The devices in question, totalling about 14, were seized during a search operation at El-Rufai’s residence on 19 February, at House 12, Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
The items found included a Sony HD-EGS storage device, 1TB Transcend storage, Toshiba and Samsung storage devices, various mobile phones (Samsung, Nokia N95 8GB, Blackberry, Google IDEOS, ZTE), a Remarkable tablet, Apple MacBook Pro, Seagate FreeAgent external drive, 10 flash drives, and a Microcell memory card.
El-Rufai, who has been in ICPC custody since 18 February, had previously denied the agency access to these gadgets amid his legal challenge. This development unfolded against the backdrop of El-Rufai’s N1 billion fundamental rights case before Justice Abdulmalik, with a suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2026.
Filed on 20 February through his lawyer, SAN Oluwole Iyamu, the suit alleged the ICPC and police of violating El-Rufai’s rights to dignity, liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the search.
He sought a relief to declare the operation unlawful, evidence obtained inadmissible, return of seized items with inventory, an injunction against using the materials, and N1 billion in damages. ICPC countered the claims via affidavit, stating the search followed a valid warrant issued 18 February and executed between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m., witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife Hadiza and son Mohammed. The agency maintained that it acted on a petition triggering the investigation.
The Nigeria Police, via Inspector Ewa Anthony’s affidavit, defended its role, asserting statutory powers and procedural compliance, urging dismissal of the suit as an attempt to evade the probe.
The court’s cognizance of device access marked a setback for El-Rufai’s defenses, potentially unlocking critical evidence in the corruption inquiry.
As proceedings continued, this case highlighted escalating scrutiny on high-profile figures in Nigeria’s anti-graft drive, with implications for due process and investigative powers.