Title: Court Approves ICPC Request to Examine El-Rufai’s Seized Devices Date Published: 12 March 2026 Description: The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission permission to access and analyse electronic devices recovered from the residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the approval while ruling on an ex parte application filed by ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, seeking leave for the anti-graft agency to inspect and conduct forensic analysis on the items.The commission had told the court that the devices were recovered during a search of El-Rufai’s Abuja residence as part of an ongoing investigation and requested authorisation to open and examine them for data extraction and forensic review.In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik allowed the request and authorised the ICPC to access the contents of the devices, including public documents, WhatsApp conversations, text messages, call logs, pictures and other relevant data.Items listed in the order include a Sony HD-EGS storage device, a 1TB Transcend storage device, a Toshiba storage device, Samsung and Nokia mobile phones, a Blackberry phone, a Google IDEOS phone, an Apple MacBook Pro, a Remarkable tablet, 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 El-Rufai. The court held that the anti-graft agency was entitled to examine the items seized in the course of investigation for forensic purposes.Meanwhile, El-Rufai has filed a separate fundamental rights enforcement suit before the same court challenging the search of his residence and demanding N1bn in damages.In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed through his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), the former governor asked the court to declare that the search conducted at his residence on Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 by operatives of the ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force violated his constitutional rights.He 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 further urged the court to rule that any evidence obtained during the search should be declared inadmissible in any proceedings against him. He also asked the court to restrain the respondents from relying on the seized items in any investigation or prosecution and to order their immediate return alongside a detailed inventory.The former governor is also seeking N1bn as general, exemplary and aggravated damages for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.However, in a counter-affidavit, the ICPC said the search followed a petition it received against the former governor, which prompted an investigation.The commission maintained that its operatives carried out the search under a valid warrant issued on February 18 and executed the following day between 1:37pm and 3:56pm at El-Rufai’s residence.According to the agency, the operation was conducted in the presence of his wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.The police also defended the operation in a separate counter-affidavit deposed to by Inspector Ewa Anthony, insisting that the search was carried out pursuant to a valid warrant issued by a competent court.The police added that their officers complied with all legal procedures in 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. Attached Images: 0a4daaae36cf1346cc54cefd4927791dd131f6a44853ae6b889792ee786d110f.jpg Attached Video: None