The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday arraigned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, his former Senior Special Adviser Jimi Lawal, and five companies before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on 111 amended charges of corruption and money laundering linked to an N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract.
Details of the charges
The charges, filed by the ICPC in April, allege that El-Rufai, while serving 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 in Kaduna metropolis at a reviewed cost of N8.68 billion. The commission claims the contract was awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited, a company lacking the requisite experience and qualifications, in violation of public procurement laws.
The ICPC further alleged that proceeds from the transaction were transferred through several companies and individuals. The defendants are accused of receiving or taking possession of more than N2 billion through a series of transactions involving Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited between 2017 and 2022.
Defendants and court proceedings
According to a statement by ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, El-Rufai is the first defendant in the case marked FHC/KD/93C/2026. Also named as defendants are Lawal, Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited. The commission stated that Bashir El-Rufai, identified as an elder brother of the former governor, was mentioned in one of the counts and is currently at large.
One of the counts alleges that El-Rufai aided an act of corruption by approving the CCTV contract despite knowing the company lacked required experience and that the procurement process violated the law. The offences are said to be contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Defendants plead not guilty
El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court. Following their pleas, Judge Hauwa’u Buhari adjourned the matter until 1 July for a ruling on the defendants’ bail application.
This latest case adds to a list of corruption prosecutions against the former governor by the ICPC. In March, the commission arraigned El-Rufai and an associate, Joel Adoga, before the Federal High Court in Kaduna over alleged laundering of N579 million and $1.1 million said to be proceeds of unlawful activities. They also pleaded not guilty. El-Rufai is facing a separate case before the Kaduna State High Court, where the ICPC amended an earlier charge and re-arraigned him on counts of alleged abuse of office, procurement violations and related offences during his tenure. He has denied wrongdoing in all cases.
