The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday disclosed details of documents and electronic devices allegedly recovered from the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In court documents submitted to the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the anti-graft agency disclosed the information in opposition to the former governor’s N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement lawsuit.
Last month, El-Rufai contested what he claimed were his unlawful detention, arrest, and home search.
In the court documents, the ICPC requested that the lawsuit be dismissed, arguing that its agents were acting in accordance with a legitimate search order that was granted on February 18 and carried out on February 19 between 1:37 and 3:56 p.m. at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
According to the commission, El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and son, Mohammed El-Rufai, saw the exercise, and its officials were escorted by members of the Nigerian Police Force.
Investor account statements, asset declaration forms, business entity certificates of registration, corporate compliance records, client Know-Your-Customer files, documents connected to the African Democratic Congress welfare secretary, records of domestic and foreign loans authorized by the Kaduna State House of Assembly from 2015 to 2023, and interim investigation reports involving El-Rufai and associates were among the allegedly recovered items.
Other confiscated materials included Ecobank Nigeria Plc share certificates; land 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/publicity materials from the office of the ex-governor.
Electronic devices recovered reportedly included nine flash drives, one memory card, seven hard drives, multiple laptops including Apple MacBook Pro and Elumac Book Pro models, mobile phones including Blackberry, Nokia N95, Toshiba, Samsung IDEOS, Google IDEOS, 18 other devices, and a Remarkable tablet with chargers.
Hadiza El-Rufai, Mohammed El-Rufai, Ajibade Abiodun, and Asjuquo J.E. witnessed the operation, according to the ICPC, and a comprehensive Device Documentation Form recorded the serial numbers, types, storage details, and accessories of the devices.
The commission acknowledged that El-Rufai noted in the documentation that he did not grant consent for access to any of the devices found in his home.
The materials will be subjected to forensic analysis as part of ongoing investigations into claims of asset concealment and corruption, according to the ICPC.
El-Rufai’s family responded in a statement on Monday, accusing the commission of trying to make his silence during questioning illegal.
The former governor replied, “If you have anything against me, charge me,” in a statement signed by his son, House of Representatives member Bello El-Rufai. You’ve had almost two years to look into me. Please take me to court.
The family insisted that his silence was an exercise of his constitutional freedom rather than proof of guilt, and they characterized the commission’s attempts to draw negative conclusions as exhibiting an “inquisitorial mindset.”
Additionally, they contested the extent of the retrieved objects, claiming that only personal belongings were stolen.
“We were present when these items were seized. No equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones… and storage devices like flash drives and laptops… were seized from the property,” the statement read.
“Our lawyers have challenged this illegitimate warrant in a court of competent jurisdiction,” the family added, further alleging that the search warrant was improperly obtained and invalid.
El-Rufai has been the subject of numerous investigations since leaving power in 2023. The Kaduna State House of Assembly demanded an inquiry into the purported misappropriation of N423 billion when he was in office in 2023.
He was previously detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the State Security Service. He is still being held by the ICPC, and his incarceration is allegedly delaying his arraignment on unrelated phone-tapping accusations.
According to the ICPC, its activities were legal and compliant with its legislative authority to look into corruption and related crimes.
