Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Lawal, and five others have been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption, money laundering and related offences linked to an N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna on an amended 11-count charge marked FHC/KD/93C/2026, according to a statement issued by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.
Also named in the charge are Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.
The commission further listed Bashir El-Rufai, identified as the elder brother of the former governor and currently at large, in one of the counts.
According to the ICPC, El-Rufai, during his tenure as governor, approved the award of a contract for the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system across Kaduna metropolis valued at N8.68 billion.
The anti-corruption agency alleged that the contract was awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited despite the company allegedly lacking the required qualifications and experience to execute the project.
The commission further claimed that proceeds from the contract were subsequently transferred through multiple companies and individuals in a series of financial transactions between 2017 and 2022.
ICPC alleged that the defendants received and possessed funds exceeding N2 billion, which it reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
One of the charges specifically accuses El-Rufai of aiding an act of corruption by approving the contract in violation of procurement regulations despite allegedly being aware of the company’s lack of capacity.
When the charges were read in court, both El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, the court adjourned proceedings until July 1, 2026, for a ruling on the defendants’ bail applications.
The latest case adds to a growing list of legal battles involving the former governor. El-Rufai is also facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations relating to the interception of communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The former governor has consistently denied wrongdoing in the cases brought against him.
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