The Federal High Court of Nigeria 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 approved the order on Thursday after hearing an ex-parte motion filed by ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
The motion sought the court’s authorisation for the commission to inspect the devices, conduct forensic examinations and extract relevant data as part of its ongoing investigation involving the former governor.
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), ICPC operatives recovered 14 electronic devices from El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja. The items reportedly include external storage devices, several mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, flash drives and a microSD card.
The application forms part of the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2026 titled Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai is challenging the search in a separate fundamental rights enforcement suit seeking N1 billion in damages under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026.
In the suit filed on February 20 by his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu, the former governor argued that the February 19 search of his residence at 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy.
He further contended that any evidence obtained during the search should be declared inadmissible in court and requested an injunction preventing the use of such materials in any proceedings against him.
El-Rufai also demanded the immediate return of all seized items alongside a detailed inventory and asked the court to award him N1 billion in general, exemplary and aggravated damages.
However, the ICPC maintained that the search was conducted under a valid warrant issued on February 18 and executed on February 19 between 1:37 pm and 3:56 pm at the former governor’s residence.
The commission stated that its operatives carried out the operation alongside 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 counter-affidavit, the police also defended the operation, stating that it was carried out in compliance with a valid court order and legal procedures.
They argued that El-Rufai’s suit seeks to use the court process to shield himself from ongoing investigations and possible prosecution.
The case remains pending before the Federal High Court while the ICPC continues its forensic examination of the seized devices.
