ICPC gives full details of documents, other items recovered from El-Rufai’s home

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

The agency disclosed this in its filings submitted at the Federal High Court in Abuja to counter a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against ICPC and others by Mr El-Rufai.

Others sued alongside ICPC by Mr El-Rufai are a chief magistrate in Abuja who issued the search warrant executed at his Abuja residence last month, the Nigerian police, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) over his alleged illegal arrest, detention and search conducted at his home in Abuja last month.

The former governor and President Bola Tinubu’s critic, who has been in ICPC detention since last month, described the investigations as politically motivated and said he would respond to the allegations in court.

However, ICPC urged the court in its filing seen by PREMIUM TIMES to dismiss the suit, citing its discoveries during its agents’ search of Mr El-Rufai’s house at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

ICPC said the search was conducted from 1:37 p.m. to 3:56 p.m. on 19 February based on a magistrate-issued warrant dated 18 February.

The agency said its officials were accompanied by personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, adding that the search was witnessed by Mr El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.

Financial documents

ICPC officials said they recovered investor account statements and asset declaration forms belonging to Mr El-Rufai.

They also said they seized certificates of registration for business entities, including Millennium and Harmonised X Ltd, alongside corporate compliance records and client KYC files.

The anti-graft agency also claimed to confiscate the African Democratic Congress (ADC) welfare secretary documents dated 29 November 2025, records of domestic and foreign loans approved by the Kaduna State House of Assembly between 2015 and 2023, and interim investigation reports involving Mr El-Rufai and his associates.

Other documents obtained include Ecobank Nigeria PLC share certificates dated 3 October 2008, and land files and student financial services documents.

Electronic devices and storage

The ICPC said it recovered nine flash drives, one memory card, and seven hard drives. Agents also seized multiple laptops, including Apple MacBook Pro and Elumac Book Pro models, as well as mobile phones comprising Blackberry, Nokia N95, Toshiba, Samsung IDEOS, Google IDEOS, and 18 other devices.

The anti-graft agency retrieved a Remarkable tablet and its chargers, along with folders containing flight tickets stored across various devices.

All devices were properly documented and sealed for forensic analysis.

Property and real estate records

ICPC also said its agents recovered valuation reports and deeds of assignment for properties located at plots 18071, 13071, and 14 Kano Road.

The team also seized irrevocable Powers of Attorney covering multiple properties, consolidating ownership and transfer records for investigative purposes.

In addition, it claimed the agents secured Afri-Venture Capital Company documents, including bank statements, cheque books, and corporate records.

It also claimed they confiscated payment mandates and media/publicity documents from the Office of the ex-governor, materials related to the 1st Saudi-Africa Summit, Nigerian Pilgrims Platform management, and plans for proposed residential developments in Abuja.

Additionally, it said petitions and invitations involving the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and the INC 20th Anniversary Colloquium were recovered.

ICPC device documentation

A detailed Device Documentation Form was completed for all electronic devices, recording serial numbers, types, storage details, and accessories.

The recovery operation was witnessed and confirmed by Hadiza El-Rufai, Mohammed El-Rufai, Ajibade Abiodun, and Asjuquo J.E on 19 February.

However, Mr El-Rufai’s remark in the document stated that he did not grant consent for any access to the devices listed or found in his house.

The ICPC stated that the recovered materials will undergo forensic analysis as part of ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and asset concealment.

Family rejects claims

Reacting to the allegations in a press statement on Monday, Mr El-Rufai’s family accused the anti-graft agency of attempting to criminalise Mr El-Rufai’s decision to remain silent during interrogation.

Quoting the former governor Nasir El-Rufai, the statement signed by Mr El-Rufai’s son Bello El-Rufai, who is a serving member of the House of Representatives, stated, “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 maintained that his silence in custody was an exercise of his constitutional right and not evidence of guilt, stressing:

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees every citizen the right to remain silent.”

They further argued that drawing negative inferences from that silence reflects what they called an “inquisitorial mindset” on the part of the ICPC.

The family countered that only personal effects were taken from the searched home.

“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 younger El-Rufai said.

According to them, the alleged “sophisticated tapping equipment” exists only “in the fevered imagination of the ICPC and its press team.”

A major plank of the family’s response is the claim that the search itself was based on an invalid warrant.

Their statement alleged that the warrant was fraudulently procured and signed by a magistrate “purporting to sit in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory,” describing the entire process as legally defective.

“Our lawyers have challenged this illegitimate warrant in a court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement added, inviting the ICPC to justify the document in court.

The family further accused the Commission of engaging in “forgery, uttering of false documents, and the peddling of falsehood.”

READ ALSO: Family rejects ICPCs phone-tapping device discovery claim against El-Rufai, slams agency

Backstory

Since leaving office in 2023, Mr El-Rufai and his former aides have faced multiple investigations. In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly called for a probe into the alleged diversion of N423 billion during his administration.

Security operatives attempted to arrest Mr El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport shortly after he returned from Egypt, but the operation was unsuccessful.

The State Security Service (SSS) subsequently seized his passport in connection with separate investigations.

Following the airport incident, he granted an interview on Arise Television, in which he allegedly claimed to have accessed the phone of the National Security Adviser to the President, Nuhu Ribadu, and overheard directives to detain him.

He later said the attempted arrest was carried out on Mr Ribadu’s instructions via the SSS.

His lawyer condemned the airport action as arbitrary and unconstitutional, noting that arrangements had already been made for Mr El-Rufai to honour an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invitation upon his return.

He spent two days in EFCC custody but was immediately rearrested by ICPC agents as soon as the EFCC released him on bail.

Mr El-Rufai was in custody when ICPC agents carried out the search of his residence on 19 February.

At present, the former governor remains in ICPC custody pending the conclusion of investigations and possible arraignment in court.

Last week, his detention by the ICPC stalled his arraignment on phone tapping charges filed against him the SSS.

The ICPC has maintained that its actions are within the law and part of its mandate to investigate corruption and related offences.