By Juliet Ezeh
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) permission to access and conduct forensic analysis on electronic devices recovered from the residence of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El‑Rufai.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Thursday after hearing an ex parte application filed by counsel to the ICPC, Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
The anti-graft agency had approached the court seeking approval to open and examine the seized devices for forensic investigation as part of an ongoing probe involving the former governor.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik authorised the commission to inspect and analyse the contents of the devices, including WhatsApp chats, text messages, call logs, photographs and other electronic records that may assist the investigation.
The devices were recovered during a search operation carried out by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission at El-Rufai’s Abuja residence.
Items listed in the court order include several storage devices and mobile phones, such as a Sony HD-EGS storage device, a 1TB Transcend storage device, a Toshiba storage device, Samsung and Nokia mobile phones, a Blackberry device and a Google IDEOS phone.
Other devices listed are a Samsung storage device (SPO802N), a Remarkable tablet, an Apple MacBook Pro laptop, 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.
Justice Abdulmalik held that the anti-corruption agency was entitled to examine the seized items for forensic analysis in the course of its investigation.
El-Rufai Challenges Search, Demands N1bn Damages
Meanwhile, El-Rufai has filed a separate suit before the same court challenging the legality of the search carried out at his residence.
In the fundamental rights enforcement suit, the former governor named the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.
Through his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), the former governor is seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that the search conducted on February 19 at his residence located at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja violated his fundamental rights.
El-Rufai argued that the operation breached his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as provided under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution.
He also asked the court to declare that any evidence obtained from the search should be considered inadmissible in any legal proceedings against him.
In addition, the former governor is requesting an order directing authorities to return all items seized from his residence and provide a detailed inventory, while also seeking N1 billion in general, exemplary and aggravated damages for the alleged violation of his rights.
ICPC, Police Defend Operation
In response, the ICPC told the court it acted based on a petition it received against the former governor, which triggered the investigation that led to the search.
According to the commission, the operation was carried out under a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37pm and 3:56pm.
The agency also stated that its operatives were accompanied by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and that the search was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
In a separate counter-affidavit, the police defended the operation, insisting that officers acted within their statutory powers to investigate and prosecute offences.
They further argued that the search warrant was lawfully obtained from a competent court and accused the former governor of attempting to use the judiciary to shield himself from investigation and possible prosecution.
The police urged the court to dismiss El-Rufai’s suit in its entirety.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.