ABUJA, Nigeria — In a significant development for the ongoing investigation into former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, a Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) permission to access and analyze 14 electronic devices recovered from his residence.
The order, issued on Thursday, March 12, 2026, by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, follows an ex-parte motion filed by the ICPC’s legal team. This ruling provides the anti-graft agency with the legal backing to perform deep forensic extractions of data as they build their case against the former governor.
Key Devices Under Scrutiny
The court order specifically identifies a wide array of technology seized during a search of El-Rufai’s Abuja home. The list includes:
- Laptops & Tablets: An Apple MacBook Pro (Black) and a Remarkable tablet.
- Mobile Phones: Multiple devices including a Samsung mobile phone, a Nokia N95 8GB, a Blackberry, a Google IDEOS phone, and a ZTE mobile phone.
- Storage Media: A 1TB Transcend storage device, Sony HD-EGS storage, Toshiba and Samsung storage units, a Seagate Freeagent desk external drive, 10 individual flash drives, and a Microcell memory card.
Justice Abdulmalik’s ruling empowers the ICPC to examine WhatsApp conversations, text messages, call logs, pictures, and other public documents stored on these devices.
Expanding the Investigation
The ICPC’s lead counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Akponimisingha, argued that the forensic examination is vital to the commission’s investigation into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor.
This court victory for the ICPC comes just a day after the commission secured an extension to keep El-Rufai in custody. A Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari recently granted an additional 14-day remand warrant, allowing the agency to detain the former governor until at least March 19, 2026, to prevent any interference with the ongoing probe.
El-Rufai’s Legal Counter-Offensive
While the ICPC moves forward with its data extraction, El-Rufai’s legal team is fighting back. The former governor has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit, demanding ₦1 billion in damages from the ICPC, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
El-Rufai’s lawyers claim the search of his Asokoro residence was conducted under an “invalid” warrant and have asked the court to declare any evidence obtained during the raid inadmissible. They have characterized the investigation as a form of political persecution, a claim the ICPC has dismissed, stating they are acting on a valid petition and a court-authorized warrant.
What’s Next?
The legal battle is set to intensify in the coming weeks. Justice Abdulmalik has adjourned the hearing on El-Rufai’s ₦1 billion suit until March 25, 2026. Meanwhile, the ICPC is expected to begin its forensic report immediately, which could potentially yield new leads in the high-profile corruption case.
