ICPC arraigns el-Rufai over alleged N8.7bn Kaduna CCTV contract irregularities

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Nasir el-Rufai , former Kaduna State governor and six others before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and procurement-related offences.

Also named in the charge are Jimi Lawal, a former adviser to the ex-governor, alongside Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.

According to a statement issued by the anti-graft agency, Bashir el-Rufai, identified as a brother of the former governor, was mentioned in one of the counts and is currently at large.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna.

In the amended charge sheet, the ICPC alleged that el-Rufai approved the award of a contract valued at N8.68 billion for the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system in Kaduna metropolis to Singularity Network Security Limited in violation of public procurement regulations.

The commission further alleged that the company lacked the requisite qualifications and experience required for the execution of the project.

The anti-corruption agency also accused the defendants of receiving and transferring 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.

El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court subsequently adjourned proceedings until July 1, 2026, for a ruling on the defendants’ bail applications.

El-Rufai served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, while Lawal held several advisory roles during the administration, including senior adviser and counsellor at the Kaduna Economic Development Council between 2019 and 2023.

The former governor is currently facing multiple prosecutions instituted by the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS) in separate courts.

The ICPC had earlier filed separate corruption and money laundering cases against him before the Federal High Court and the Kaduna State High Court.

The DSS is also prosecuting el-Rufai on allegations relating to the unlawful interception of telephone conversations allegedly linked to Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.

In earlier proceedings, the Federal High Court in Kaduna granted the former governor bail in the sum of N200 million, while the Kaduna State High Court declined a separate bail application.

Similarly, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like amount. The court directed that the surety must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property with the court registry.

The bail conditions have drawn criticism from some observers, who argue that the requirements are unusually stringent.