The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has once again instituted fresh criminal proceedings against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and seven other individuals. The charges relate to alleged fraudulent activities and money laundering connected to a ₦10.8 billion Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) security project in Kaduna State.
Court Documents Reveal 11 Counts
According to legal documents submitted at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on April 17, the ICPC has brought 11 counts under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022. The former Commissioner of Information in Kaduna and Chairman of Liberty Television, Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan, disclosed via a Facebook post that El-Rufai and the other accused individuals will soon face these new charges.
Allegations of Contract Irregularities
The commission further alleges that El-Rufai sanctioned the award of an ₦8.68 billion CCTV contract in December 2015 to a company that purportedly lacked the necessary expertise. Additionally, it is claimed that substantial sums of money were received and transferred between 2017 and 2022 by individuals and companies associated with the project, including Singularity Network Security Limited and other entities.
List of Accused Persons
Others named in the case include former Kaduna State government official Jimi Lawal, senior executives of IHS Towers, and five companies. Notably, one of El-Rufai’s sons, Bashir El-Rufai, was mentioned in the allegations but is not listed as a defendant in the charges.
This marks the third set of charges filed by the ICPC against the former governor since March. El-Rufai is already embroiled in other separate corruption-related cases involving different state projects, such as a light rail contract and severance payments. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing during previous court appearances.
Furthermore, other agencies, including the State Security Service (SSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), are also conducting investigations or prosecutions against him over distinct allegations.
