ICPC Lists Documents, Devices Seized from El-Rufai’s Abuja Home in Court Filings

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed details of documents and electronic devices allegedly recovered from the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai during a February 19 search.

In court filings opposing el-Rufai’s N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit, the anti-graft agency stated the search was conducted under a valid warrant, witnessed by his wife Hadiza and son Mohammed.

Seized items include investor account statements, asset declaration forms, corporate records, loan documents approved by the Kaduna Assembly (2015-2023), land documents, share certificates, and multiple electronic devices including nine flash drives, seven hard drives, laptops (Apple MacBook Pro, Elumac Book Pro), various mobile phones, and a Remarkable tablet. El-Rufai noted he did not grant consent for device access. His family disputes the scope, claiming only old personal phones and storage devices were taken, and alleges the warrant was fraudulently procured. The ICPC maintains its actions were lawful and will subject materials to forensic examination.

Key Points:

The detailed inventory reveals the extensive scope of materials the ICPC believes relevant to its investigation.
The family’s dispute over what was seized sets up a factual battle likely to be resolved in court.
El-Rufai’s refusal to consent to device access may complicate forensic examination but is his constitutional right.
The involvement of family members as witnesses during the search provides documentation of the process.
The investigation spans multiple agencies and allegations, including the Kaduna Assembly’s N423 billion probe.

The ICPC’s detailed inventory of seized items lays bare the extensive evidence gathering in the investigation of Nasir el-Rufai, while his family’s vigorous denial of the characterization sets the stage for a legal showdown over the search’s validity and findings.

Sources: ICPC Court Filings, Family Statement