According to court filings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the operation was a lawful exercise in a broader investigation into alleged financial crimes during El-Rufai's tenure as governor .The Search Warrant: The ICPC states that the search was conducted lawfully under a valid warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in Bwari on February 18, 2026. The search of the residence at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja, was executed the following day, February 19, from 1:37 pm to 3:56 pm.Alleged Seizures: The commission claims to have recovered a wide range of items, which it has detailed in court. These include financial documents (investor account statements, loan records, asset declaration forms), corporate records, and land documents. Most contentiously, the ICPC alleges that it found "electronic magnetic equipment capable of tapping conversations" and "sensitive security documents of various security agencies"y agencies". A large number of electronic devices were also seized for forensic analysis, including 9 flash drives, 7 hard drives, multiple laptops, and about 18 mobile phones .Context of Investigation: The ICPC's investigation is based on a petition alleging serious financial irregularities during El-Rufai's time as governor (2015-2023). The allegations include the diversion of public funds, questionable cash withdrawals (including €1.4 million), and suspicious payments totalling billions of naira. The commission also referenced a televised interview where El-Rufai allegedly admitted to tapping the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.