ICPC details items seized from El-Rufai’s Abuja residence

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed a catalogue of documents and electronic devices allegedly recovered from the Abuja home of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The disclosures were contained in court processes filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in response to a N1bn fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted by El-Rufai. The former governor is challenging what he described as his unlawful arrest, detention and the search of his residence last month.

In its filings, the anti-graft agency asked the court to dismiss the suit, maintaining that its operatives executed a valid search warrant issued on February 18 and carried out on February 19 between 1:37pm and 3:56pm at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

The commission said its team was accompanied by officers of the Nigeria Police Force and that the search was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.

According to the ICPC, materials recovered during the operation included investor account statements, asset declaration documents, certificates of business registration, corporate compliance records, Know-Your-Customer files, and documents allegedly linked to the welfare secretary of the African Democratic Congress.

The agency also listed records of domestic and foreign loans approved by the Kaduna State House of Assembly between 2015 and 2023, interim investigation reports involving El-Rufai and associates, Ecobank Nigeria Plc share certificates, land-related documents, student financial services papers, valuation reports, deeds of assignment, irrevocable powers of attorney for multiple properties, Afri-Venture Capital Company documents, payment mandates, and media materials from the former governor’s office.

Electronic devices reportedly seized included nine flash drives, a memory card, seven hard drives, several laptops — including Apple MacBook Pro and Elumac Book Pro models — as well as mobile phones such as Blackberry, Nokia N95, Toshiba, Samsung IDEOS and Google IDEOS devices, alongside 18 other gadgets and a Remarkable tablet with chargers.

The commission stated that all items were properly inventoried, sealed and prepared for forensic analysis. It said a Device Documentation Form was completed, capturing serial numbers, device types, storage capacities and accessories, with the process witnessed by Hadiza El-Rufai, Mohammed El-Rufai, Ajibade Abiodun and Asjuquo J.E.

The ICPC acknowledged that El-Rufai indicated during documentation that he did not consent to granting access to the devices recovered from his residence. It added that the materials would undergo forensic examination as part of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and asset concealment.

Responding in a statement on Monday, El-Rufai’s family accused the commission of attempting to criminalise his silence during interrogation.

In a statement signed by his son, Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, the former governor said, “Charge me, if you have anything against me. You have had more than 2 years to investigate me. Take me to court, please.”

The family insisted that his refusal to speak was an exercise of his constitutional rights and not an admission of wrongdoing, describing efforts to draw negative conclusions as reflective of an “inquisitorial mindset” by the commission.

They also contested the breadth of items allegedly seized, claiming only personal belongings were taken.

“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 challenged the legality of the search warrant, alleging that it was improperly obtained. “Our lawyers have challenged this illegitimate warrant in a court of competent jurisdiction,” they added.

Since leaving office in 2023, El-Rufai has been the subject of multiple investigations. In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly recommended a probe into the alleged diversion of N423 billion during his administration. He was previously arrested by the State Security Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and is currently in ICPC custody, with his detention reportedly affecting his arraignment on separate phone-tapping charges.

The ICPC, however, maintained that its actions were lawful and consistent with its statutory mandate to investigate corruption and related offences.