ICPC arraigns El-Rufai, six others over ‘N8bn CCTV contract fraud’
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, and six others on an 11-count amended charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and related offences.
The six other defendants are Jimi Lawal, a former aide of el-Rufai; Singularity Network Security Limited; Solar Life Nigeria Limited; Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited; Intercellular Nigeria Limited; and Noble Coast Resources Limited.
In a statement published on the website of ICPC, Bashir el-Rufai, an elder brother of the former governor, who is currently at large, is also mentioned in one of the counts.
The defendants were arraigned before Hauwa’u Buhari, a judge at the federal high court in Kaduna.
In the amended charge sheet, ICPC alleged that the former Kaduna governor “unlawfully 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 in the reviewed sum of ₦8,682,574,054.94 to Singularity Network Security Limited, contrary to public procurement laws, a company alleged to lack the requisite experience and qualifications”.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that they “knowingly received or took possession of funds amounting to over ₦2 billion through various 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”.
El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case was adjourned to July 1, 2026 for ruling on the bail application.
El-Rufai served as Kaduna governor from 2015 and 2023.
Lawal was a senior adviser to the former governor and a counsellor at the Kaduna Economic Development Council from 2019 to 2023.
He also served as el-Rufai’s special adviser during his first term.
EL-RUFAI’S ORDEAL
El-Rufai is currently being prosecuted on multiple charges in different courts by the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The ICPC had previously arraigned the former governor at the federal high court in Kaduna and Kaduna high court on separate charges bordering on alleged corruption and money laundering.
The DSS is also prosecuting the former governor on five counts over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted telephone conversations linked to Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser.
At the federal high court in Kaduna, Rilwani Aikawa, the judge, granted bail in the sum of N200 million to the former governor.
At the Kaduna high court, Darius Khobo, the trial judge, denied the bail application of el-Rufai.
At the federal high court in Abuja, Joyce Abdulmalik, the judge, granted el-Rufai bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum.
The judge had ruled that the surety must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and must deposit the original certificate of occupancy (C of O) of a landed property with the court registry.
Criticisms have trailed the bail conditions imposed on the former governor with critics arguing that they are stringent.
