ICPC arraigns El-Rufai, ex-aide, over alleged N8.6bn CCTV contract fraud

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Malam Nasir El-Rufai

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Lawal, and five others on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and related offences.

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In a statement published on its website on Thursday, the ICPC said the defendants were arraigned before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, in Charge No. FHC/KD/93C/2026.

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According to the commission, the amended charge names El-Rufai as the first defendant alongside Lawal, Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.

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The anti-graft agency also listed Bashir El-Rufai, identified as an elder brother of the former governor and currently at large, in one of the counts.

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The ICPC alleged that El-Rufai, while serving as governor of Kaduna State, 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 valued at N8.68 billion to Singularity Network Security Limited, a company it claimed lacked the required experience and qualifications.

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The commission further alleged that proceeds from the contract were subsequently moved through several companies and individuals.

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According to the charge, the defendants allegedly received and possessed funds exceeding N2 billion through a series of transactions involving the companies between 2017 and 2022, funds the commission said were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

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ICPC said the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

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One of the counts alleges that El-Rufai aided an act of corruption by approving the CCTV contract in violation of procurement laws despite allegedly knowing that the company awarded the contract lacked the requisite experience.

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Both El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

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

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Recall that El-Rufai is facing multiple prosecutions inlcuding the DSS, who is prosecuting him on five counts linked to the alleged interception of communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

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