The ICPC El-Rufai raid has uncovered sixty-seven sensitive items at the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, according to fresh judicial filings. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission detailed the discoveries in a counter-affidavit submitted to the Federal High Court in Abuja, where it is defending its actions against a one-billion-naira fundamental rights suit filed by the former governor.
The search, conducted under a valid court warrant, took place at the Asokoro property on Mambilla Street and was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza, and son, Mohammed Bello, to ensure transparency in the recovery of evidence.
The items seized include advanced electronic devices, sensitive state documents, and high-level surveillance equipment. Of particular note, the ICPC reported the discovery of electronic magnetic devices allegedly capable of intercepting private telephone conversations.
The commission linked these devices to separate allegations by the State Security Service claiming El-Rufai may have conducted unauthorized surveillance of the National Security Adviser. While the family denies the claims, the ICPC insists the presence of such equipment requires forensic examination.
Financial and government records recovered span El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure as governor. These include reports on domestic and foreign loans approved by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, investor account statements, and documents from the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service.
The haul also contained original asset declaration forms and certificates of incorporation for private companies, which the commission says are key to clarifying discrepancies in the former governor’s financial disclosures and tracing over one million Euros in foreign currency.
Electronic devices confiscated during the raid were extensive, including fifteen laptops, mobile phones, and storage drives. Highlights include multiple Apple MacBook Pros, a 1TB Transcend external hard drive, and various smartphones, including Blackberry and Nokia N95 models.
Court filings note that El-Rufai declined to provide passwords or access codes, prompting ICPC to employ professional forensic experts to extract relevant data for the ongoing multi-billion-naira investigation.
The search also revealed documents linked to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party El-Rufai recently joined. Defense lawyers argue this suggests political motivation behind the probe. The ICPC, however, maintains the operation was a professional effort to recover evidence of economic crimes.
As the Federal High Court reviews the legality of the former governor’s continued detention, the recovered items remain in custody and serve as key exhibits in what is shaping up to be one of Nigeria’s most significant corruption investigations in recent years.
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