by Ọ̀gbẹ́ni Oláwálé Dáwódù
Security was tightened across Kaduna on Tuesday as former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was arraigned before a Federal High Court over alleged money laundering and corruption offences.
El-Rufai, who spent 33 days in detention before his court appearance, was brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 10-count charge marked FHC/KD/73/2026.
According to the charge sheet dated March 18, 2026, the ICPC accused the former governor of unlawfully receiving a total of about N579 million as severance allowance—far exceeding the legally approved sum of roughly N20 million.
One of the charges stated:
“That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI… sometime in September 2020… took possession of the sum of N289,826,998.12… as severance allowance over and above your legitimately entitled sum… which you reasonably ought to have known… formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption.”
A similar allegation was made for January 2023, where he was accused of receiving the same amount under comparable circumstances.
The commission further alleged that El-Rufai received multiple foreign currency deposits into his Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account from different individuals.
In one of the counts, the ICPC said:
“That you… between September 2017 and March 2023… took control of the total sum of $320,800… when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud.”
Other charges claimed he received $155,800 from Peter Akagu Jones and $305,300 from Ajayi Ayodele, alongside smaller sums of $5,000, $4,000, and $10,000 from individuals said to be at large.
Count five read in part:
“That you… in May 2022… took possession of the sum of $305,300… when you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act…”
In count 10, the ICPC alleged that El-Rufai conspired with one Joel Adoga in July 2019 in Abuja to conceal the origin of $10,000 deposited into his account.
“That you… did conspire to disguise the origin of $10,000… which… formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud,” the charge added.
All offences are said to contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The ICPC had announced on Monday its readiness to arraign El-Rufai and Adoga, while also revealing a separate case filed before a Kaduna State High Court involving allegations of abuse of office and fraud against the former governor and one Amadu Sule.
The commission noted that both cases were filed on March 18, 2026, adding that El-Rufai had been duly served and that the date for the state court arraignment would be communicated later.
El-Rufai’s legal troubles stem from ongoing investigations into his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023. He had earlier honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16 over alleged financial improprieties.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted him for the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and recommended a full investigation.
Although he was initially granted bail after two nights in EFCC custody, El-Rufai was later re-arrested. A Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently ruled that his bail application was premature until formal arraignment.
