Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El Rufai, appeared at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, for his alleged money laundering and corruption trial. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had previously announced this arraignment under suit number FHC/KD/73/2026. El Rufai faces multiple counts linked to the alleged conversion and possession of public property, money laundering, abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.

The charges, stemming from his tenure as governor, center on alleged financial impropriety, wrongful enrichment, contract irregularities, and abuse of official powers. ICPC accused El Rufai of fraudulently inducing the Kaduna State government to pay N11 billion to Indokaduna MRTS JV Nigeria Limited, described as an unregistered entity, for a light rail project that was never executed. He was also alleged to have approved and received severance payments of N289.8 million on two occasions in 2020 and 2023, significantly exceeding his lawful entitlement of approximately N20 million. Furthermore, the prosecution alleged that El Rufai dishonestly disposed of $1,085,066.38, which was part of a World Bank loan, in violation of the loan agreement.

ICPC also claimed that El Rufai awarded contracts worth billions of naira, including a N4.61 billion CCTV project and a separate $22.47 million contract to Singularity Network Security Limited, in breach of procurement laws. Additionally, he was accused of conspiring with Bashir Ahmad El-Rufai, who is reportedly at large, to offer inducements to federal investigators abroad to compromise an ongoing investigation. A separate charge is pending before the Kaduna State High Court, where El Rufai is being arraigned alongside Amadu Sule (Leda) on a 10-count charge encompassing fraud, abuse of office, conspiracy, and unlawful land dealings.

The state charges before the Kaduna State High Court mirror several federal allegations, including the N11 billion light rail transaction, which the prosecution asserted was obtained under false pretence for an unexecuted project. The prosecution further claimed that the former governor unlawfully approved a N4.61 billion CCTV contract in 2015 in violation of Kaduna State procurement laws and conferred undue advantage on the same company through a separate contract valued at $22.47 million. Amadu Sule was specifically accused of providing false information to the Kaduna State Government concerning a land application involving Old Port Trading Limited. Both Sule and El Rufai were also alleged to have conspired between 2018 and 2020 to revoke land belonging to Mohammed Umar Karage and reallocate it to Sule. The charges were brought under various laws, including the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.

ICPC confirmed that El Rufai had been formally served and reiterated its commitment to due process. John Odey, the commission’s Head of Media and Public Communications, stated that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court and assured that the prosecution would be conducted in line with the rule of law.

Meanwhile, former Vice-President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), called on the federal government to release El Rufai and other political detainees. Atiku argued that the government cannot continue to detain individuals merely for holding different political views, emphasizing that democratic governance must respect fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression and political association. He led a delegation on a solidarity visit to former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, after returning from Umrah.

On the general state of the nation, Atiku accused President Bola Tinubu of dismantling democracy and pushing Nigeria towards