Court Allows ICPC to Forensically Examine Devices Seized From Ex-Governor El-Rufai
The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to examine electronic devices recovered from the Abuja home of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The order was issued on Thursday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik following an ex parte application by ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha. The lawyer requested that the commission be allowed to inspect, conduct forensic analysis, and extract data from the devices as part of an ongoing investigation involving El-Rufai.
The items were seized by ICPC operatives during a search of the former governor’s residence. Justice Abdulmalik’s ruling permits the commission to review the contents, including public documents, WhatsApp and text messages, call logs, photos, and other relevant information.
The devices covered by the order include a Sony HD-EGS storage device, 1TB Transcend storage device, Toshiba storage device, Samsung and Nokia phones (including a Nokia N958GB), Blackberry phone, Google IDEOS phone, Samsung storage device (SPO802N), Remarkable tablet, Apple MacBook Pro, Seagate FreeAgent Desk external drive, ZTE phone, 10 flash drives, and a Microcell memory card.
The case, filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/499/2026, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the plaintiff and Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai as the defendant.
Justice Abdulmalik held that the ICPC is entitled to examine the seized items for forensic purposes as part of its investigation into the former governor.
