The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday 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.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the order after hearing an ex parte application filed by counsel to the anti-graft agency, Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
While moving the motion, the lawyer asked the court to permit the commission to open and examine the devices for inspection, forensic analysis and extraction of data as part of its ongoing investigation involving the former governor.
The devices were among items recovered by ICPC operatives during a search conducted at El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik authorised the commission to access and analyse the contents of the devices, including public documents, WhatsApp messages, text messages, pictures, call logs and other related data.
Items listed in the order include a Sony HD-EGS storage device, a 1TB Transcend storage device, a Toshiba storage device, a Samsung mobile phone, a Nokia mobile phone (N958GB), a Blackberry mobile phone and a Google IDEOS phone.
Other devices include a Samsung storage device (SPO802N), a Remarkable tablet, an Apple MacBook Pro, a Seagate FreeAgent Desk external drive, a ZTE mobile phone, 10 flash drives and a Microcell memory card.
The suit, 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 items seized during investigations for the purpose of forensic analysis.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai has filed a separate suit before the same court challenging the search of his residence and demanding N1bn in damages.
In the fundamental rights enforcement suit, the former governor listed 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 first to fourth respondents respectively.
In the originating motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, dated February 20 and filed by his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), El-Rufai sought seven reliefs from the court.
He asked the court to declare that the search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, carried out on February 19 by operatives of the ICPC and the police, violated his fundamental rights.
The former governor argued that the operation breached his rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution.
El-Rufai also urged the court to rule that any evidence obtained during the search should be declared inadmissible in any proceedings against him.
He further asked the court to restrain the respondents from relying on or presenting any items seized during the search in any investigation or prosecution involving him.
The former governor additionally sought an order directing the ICPC and the police to immediately return all items seized from his residence, along with a detailed inventory.
He is also asking the court to award him N1bn as general, exemplary and aggravated damages for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
However, in a counter-affidavit, the ICPC stated that it acted on the basis of a petition received against the former governor.
The commission said the petition prompted an investigation that led to the search of his residence.
According to the anti-graft agency, 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 at the residence.
The ICPC added that its operatives were accompanied by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force during the exercise, which it said was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El‑Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El‑Rufai, urging the court to dismiss the suit.
The police, in a separate counter-affidavit deposed to by Inspector Ewa Anthony, also defended the search.
They argued that the police have the statutory authority to detect, arrest, investigate and prosecute offenders.
According to the force, the search conducted at El-Rufai’s residence was carried out pursuant to a valid search warrant issued by a competent court.
The police further told the court that their officers complied with all legal procedures while executing the warrant and accused the former governor of attempting to use the court to shield himself from investigation and possible prosecution, urging the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
