THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has, again, taken former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, into custody.
The latest development followed proceedings at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, on Tuesday, March 31, where his case was adjourned to Wednesday, April 1.
The decision also came on the same day El-Rufai was arraigned before the Kaduna State High Court on fresh and expanded criminal charges filed by the ICPC.
At the state court, he was docked alongside a co-defendant over a 10-count charge bordering on alleged fraud, conspiracy, abuse of office, and criminal breach of trust. The charges include allegations that he induced the Kaduna State Government to approve about N11 billion for a light rail project that was never executed.
Recall that The ICIR reported that El-Rufai was being prosecuted by the ICPC at the Federal High Court, alongside a co-defendant over allegations bordering on corruption, abuse of office, and money laundering.
The charges before the Federal High Court include claims that he unlawfully received about N579 million as severance allowance far exceeding the approved entitlement and multiple foreign currency transfers suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that the former governor received $320,800 through several transactions between 2017 and 2023, in addition to other sums in foreign currencies from individuals said to be at large. Prosecutors further accused him of conspiring to conceal the origin of funds in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The court had on March 24 adjourned ruling on his bail application to March 31 after to March 31 after the counsels to the accused and litigants presented arguments. While the defence urged the court to grant bail on constitutional grounds, the prosecution opposed it, citing the gravity of the charges and the risk of interference with ongoing investigations.
The case was consequently adjourned to March 31. El-Rufai was, however, released by the ICPC, on Friday, March 27, to attend her mother burial.
Speaking after the case at the Federal High Court was adjourned the commission spokesperson, Okor Odey, told The ICIR that the former governor has been taken into custody.
“He is now in our custody. He will be going to the court from our custody tomorrow,” Odey said.
Case at State High Court adjourned to April 10
Meanwhile, the proceedings at the Kaduna State High Court, earlier today, were stalled after the absence of the second defendant, Amadu Sule (Leda), prevented the arraignment from going ahead as scheduled.
According to the charge sheet marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26 obtained by The ICIR, the defendants were accused of offences allegedly committed between 2015 and 2025 during and after El-Rufai’s tenure as governor.
Prosecutors alleged that in December 2016, El-Rufai, while serving as governor, induced the Kaduna State Government to approve an alleged N11 billion payment to Indokaduna MRTS JV Nigeria Limited for a light rail project that was never executed.
He was also accused of allegedly approving and receiving severance payments exceeding N289 million in 2020 and 2023, above his legally entitled entitlements, an act prosecutors say amounts to abuse of office and corruption.
In another count, the prosecution alleged that between March and November 2022, El-Rufai and another person at large dishonestly disposed of $1,085,066.38 in World Bank loan funds, allegedly in violation of a loan agreement.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M