The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, alongside his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Lawal, and five others over allegations of corruption, money laundering and related offences.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna on an amended 11-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency.
According to a statement published on the ICPC website on Thursday, the case is registered as Charge No. FHC/KD/93C/2026.
The commission listed El-Rufai as the first defendant in the matter, while the other defendants include Lawal, Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.
The ICPC also named Bashir El-Rufai, identified as an elder brother of the former governor and currently at large, in one of the counts contained in the amended charge.
The commission alleged that while serving as governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai approved the award of a contract worth N8.68 billion for the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system in Kaduna metropolis.
According to the ICPC, the contract was awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited despite the company allegedly lacking the required qualifications, competence and experience to execute such a project.
The anti-corruption agency further alleged that proceeds linked to the contract were subsequently transferred through a network of companies and individuals in a series of financial transactions.
The commission claimed that the defendants received and possessed funds exceeding N2 billion between 2017 and 2022 through various corporate entities.
According to the ICPC, the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and therefore constituted violations of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
One of the charges specifically accused El-Rufai of aiding an act of corruption by approving the CCTV surveillance contract in violation of applicable procurement regulations.
The commission alleged that he approved the contract despite allegedly being aware that the company awarded the project lacked the requisite expertise and qualifications.
When the charges were read before the court, both El-Rufai and his former aide, Lawal, pleaded not guilty to all allegations brought against them.
Following their plea, counsel to the defendants sought bail on their behalf, while the prosecution urged the court to consider the circumstances surrounding the case.
Justice Buhari subsequently adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications filed by the defendants.
The court is expected to determine whether the accused persons will remain on existing conditions or be granted fresh bail terms pending the commencement of trial.
The arraignment marks another major legal challenge for the former Kaduna State governor, who is currently facing multiple prosecutions.
Among the pending matters is a separate case reportedly instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS), which is prosecuting him on five counts relating to the alleged interception of communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The ICPC maintained that its investigation uncovered evidence linking the defendants to the alleged diversion and laundering of funds connected to the CCTV project and stated that it would pursue the matter in court.
The case is expected to attract significant public attention given the profile of the defendants and the scale of the allegations contained in the amended charge.
