The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed the documents and electronic devices allegedly recovered from the Abuja home of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The disclosure came in court filings before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, where the anti-graft agency opposed a N1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by El-Rufai. The former governor had challenged what he described as his unlawful arrest, detention, and the search of his residence last month.
According to the ICPC, its operatives acted under a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and executed the operation the following day at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja, between 1:37 pm and 3:56 pm. Officials were accompanied by police personnel, and the exercise was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza, and son, Mohammed.
Items reportedly recovered include investor account statements, asset declaration forms, business registration certificates, corporate compliance records, client Know-Your-Customer files, documents linked to political party officials, records of domestic and foreign loans approved by the Kaduna State House of Assembly from 2015 to 2023, and interim investigation reports involving El-Rufai and associates. Other materials reportedly seized include share certificates, land documents, student financial service papers, valuation reports, property deeds, powers of attorney, payment mandates, and media or publicity materials from the former governor’s office.
The electronic devices recovered reportedly consisted of nine flash drives, a memory card, seven hard drives, multiple laptops including Apple MacBook Pro models, mobile phones such as Blackberry, Nokia N95, Toshiba, Samsung, and Google IDEOS, 18 other gadgets, and a Remarkable tablet with chargers. All items were documented and sealed for forensic analysis.
The ICPC stated that a detailed Device Documentation Form captured serial numbers, device types, storage details, and accessories, with witnesses including Hadiza and Mohammed El-Rufai, as well as officials Ajibade Abiodun and Asjuquo J.E. The commission noted that El-Rufai did not grant consent for access to the devices found at his residence.
The materials are set for forensic examination as part of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and asset concealment.
Responding, El-Rufai’s family accused the commission of trying to criminalise his silence during interrogation. In a statement signed by his son, Bello El-Rufai, the former governor urged authorities to charge him if evidence exists, noting that investigations have been ongoing for over two years. The family stressed that his silence is a constitutional right, not an admission of guilt, and questioned the validity of the search warrant, describing it as fraudulently obtained.
Since leaving office in 2023, El-Rufai has faced multiple probes, including allegations of diverting N423 billion during his administration. He has previously been arrested by the State Security Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and remains in ICPC custody, with his detention reportedly delaying his arraignment on separate phone-tapping charges.
The ICPC maintains that its actions were lawful and consistent with its mandate to investigate corruption and related offences.
