ICPC Lists Items Seized from El-Rufai’s Home as Ex-Governor Challenges Search

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has submitted a detailed inventory of documents and electronic devices seized from the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, amid ongoing investigations.

 

Filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the disclosure responds to a ₦1 billion fundamental rights suit instituted by El-Rufai, who is contesting what he describes as unlawful arrest, detention, and search of his home.

 

According to the ICPC, its operatives executed a search on February 19, 2026, between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m., acting on a warrant issued the previous day. Officers from the Nigeria Police Force were present, and the search was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza, and son, Mohammed.

 

Items reportedly recovered include investor account statements, asset declaration forms, corporate compliance records, client know-your-customer documents, land title deeds, Afri-Venture Capital Company records, media materials from the former governor’s office, and records of loans approved by the Kaduna State House of Assembly between 2015 and 2023.

 

Several electronic devices were also seized for forensic analysis, including nine flash drives, seven hard drives, multiple laptops (including Apple MacBook Pro and Elumac Book Pro models), mobile phones (Blackberry, Nokia N95, Toshiba, Samsung IDEOS, Google IDEOS), a Remarkable tablet, and 18 other devices. All items were catalogued in a Device Documentation Form detailing serial numbers, types, storage capacity, and accessories.

 

The ICPC stated that El-Rufai did not consent to access the devices, but said the items would undergo forensic examination as part of its probe into alleged corruption and asset concealment.

 

Reacting, the El-Rufai family, through Bello El-Rufai, a House of Representatives member, insisted the former governor’s silence during interrogation was an exercise of constitutional rights and should not be treated as evidence of guilt. The family also questioned the scope and legality of the seized items, claiming only “old discarded personal mobile phones, storage devices like flash drives and laptops” were taken. They further alleged the search warrant was invalid and have challenged it in court.

 

The matter is now pending before the FCT High Court for determination.