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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court a detailed inventory of documents and electronic devices it said were recovered from the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, during a search conducted last month.
The disclosure forms part of the commission’s response to a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted by the former governor, who is contesting what he described as his unlawful arrest, detention and the search of his home.
In its court processes, the ICPC maintained that its operatives acted on a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and executed on February 19 between 1:37 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. at El-Rufai’s residence located at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja. The agency stated that its team was accompanied by officers of the Nigeria Police Force and that the search was witnessed by his wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
According to the commission, items retrieved from the property include investor account statements, asset declaration forms, business registration certificates, corporate compliance records and client know-your-customer documentation.
The ICPC further claimed that it recovered documents relating to the African Democratic Congress welfare secretary, records of domestic and foreign loans approved by the Kaduna State House of Assembly between 2015 and 2023, as well as interim investigation reports involving El-Rufai and certain associates.
Other materials listed in the inventory include Ecobank Nigeria Plc share certificates, land title documents, valuation reports, deeds of assignment, irrevocable powers of attorney covering multiple properties, Afri-Venture Capital Company records, payment mandates and media/publicity materials from the Office of the former governor.
The anti-graft agency also stated that several electronic devices were seized and sealed for forensic analysis.
These reportedly include nine flash drives, one memory card, seven hard drives, multiple laptops, among them Apple MacBook Pro and Elumac Book Pro models, and mobile phones such as Blackberry, Nokia N95, Toshiba, Samsung IDEOS and Google IDEOS devices. The inventory further lists 18 additional devices and a Remarkable tablet with chargers.
The commission said all items were catalogued in a Device Documentation Form detailing serial numbers, device types, storage capacity and accessories. It added that the documentation process was witnessed by Hadiza El-Rufai, Mohammed El-Rufai, Ajibade Abiodun and Asjuquo J.E.
The ICPC acknowledged that El-Rufai indicated in the documentation that he did not grant consent for access to the recovered devices. It maintained, however, that the materials would undergo forensic examination as part of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and asset concealment.
Reacting in a statement signed by Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives and son of the former governor, the family accused the commission of attempting to criminalise his silence during interrogation.
“Charge me if you have anything against me. You have had more than two years to investigate me. Take me to court, please,” the statement quoted El-Rufai as saying.
The family insisted that his refusal to answer questions was an exercise of his constitutional right and should not be construed as evidence of guilt, describing attempts to draw adverse inferences as reflective of an “inquisitorial mindset.”
They also challenged the scope of the items allegedly recovered.
“We were present when these items were seized. No equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones… storage devices like flash drives and laptops… were seized from the property,” the statement read.
The family further alleged that the search warrant was invalid and fraudulently obtained, stating that their legal team had already challenged the warrant before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The matter is now before the FCT High Court for determination.
ICPC lists documents, devices seized from El-Rufai’s home as ex-governor challenges search
