The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted permission to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to access and analyse several electronic devices recovered from the Abuja residence of a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
The order was granted by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik after hearing an ex parte application filed by the counsel to the anti-graft agency, Osuobeni Akponimisingha.
The ICPC had approached the court seeking permission to open and examine the electronic devices for inspection and forensic analysis as part of its ongoing investigation involving the former governor.
In granting the application, the judge authorised the commission to access and analyse the contents of the devices. This includes reviewing documents stored on them as well as data such as WhatsApp conversations, text messages, call logs, pictures and other digital information that may assist investigators.
The devices were among items recovered by ICPC operatives during a search conducted at El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja.
According to the court order, the devices listed 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 mentioned in the order are a Samsung storage device identified as 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 is listed as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2026 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 in the course of investigation in order to conduct forensic analysis.
The ruling marks a new stage in the investigation involving the former governor, who served as Kaduna State governor from 2015 to 2023.
While the ICPC obtained the order to analyse the devices, El-Rufai has already filed a separate case before the same Federal High Court challenging the legality of the search conducted at his residence.
In the suit filed under the fundamental rights enforcement procedure, the former governor is asking the court to declare that the search violated his constitutional rights.
The respondents listed in the suit include the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigeria Police Force and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and dated February 20, was filed by his lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN).
He asked the court to declare that the search carried out at his residence located at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive in Abuja on February 19 violated his fundamental rights.
According to him, the operation breached his rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as provided under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution.
The former governor further argued that any evidence obtained during the search should be declared inadmissible in any court proceedings.
He also requested the court to stop the ICPC and the police from relying on or presenting any items seized from his residence in any investigation or prosecution against him.
In addition, El-Rufai asked the court to order the immediate return of all items seized during the search, along with a detailed inventory of the property taken from his home.
He is also seeking N1bn in general, exemplary and aggravated damages for what he described as the violation of his fundamental rights.
In response to the lawsuit, the ICPC filed a counter-affidavit explaining the circumstances that led to the search.
The commission said it received a petition against the former governor which prompted an investigation.
According to the agency, the petition raised issues that required further inquiry, leading investigators to seek and obtain a search warrant from a competent court.
The ICPC stated that its operatives carried out the search under a valid warrant issued on February 18.
The operation, it said, was executed the following day, February 19, between 1:37 pm and 3:56 pm at El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja.
The commission also explained that the search was conducted in the presence of members of the former governor’s family.
According to the ICPC, El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai, were present during the operation.
The anti-graft agency said its officials were also accompanied by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force while executing the search warrant.
The ICPC therefore urged the court to dismiss the former governor’s suit.
The police also filed a separate counter-affidavit in the case.
The affidavit was deposed to by Inspector Ewa Anthony, who defended the role played by the police during the search.
The police argued that they have the legal authority to detect crimes, arrest suspects, investigate offences and prosecute offenders.
According to the affidavit, the search at El-Rufai’s residence was conducted based on a valid search warrant issued by a competent court.
The police maintained that their officers followed all legal procedures in carrying out the warrant.
They further accused the former governor of attempting to use the court process to shield himself from investigation and possible prosecution.
The police therefore asked the court to dismiss the suit entirely.
The development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of former public officials in Nigeria by anti-corruption agencies.
The ICPC is one of the federal government agencies responsible for investigating corruption-related offences involving public officials and institutions.
Over the years, the commission has conducted several investigations involving serving and former government officials across the country.
El-Rufai is a prominent political figure in Nigeria. Before becoming governor of Kaduna State in 2015, he had served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
His tenure as governor of Kaduna State was marked by major reforms in education, infrastructure and governance, as well as political controversies.
Since leaving office in 2023, the former governor has remained active in national political discussions.
The outcome of the ongoing court proceedings could determine whether investigators will be able to rely on evidence obtained during the search of his residence.
For now, Thursday’s ruling allows the ICPC to proceed with forensic examination of the electronic devices seized during the operation.
