Kaduna Governor El-Rufai to Face Charges of Corruption and Financial Crimes in Court on Tuesday

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is poised to arraign Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, to face charges related to corruption.

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This development comes on the heels of intense pressure from various stakeholders, including the African Democratic Congress, which had called for El-Rufai's immediate release or arraignment, citing the violation of his constitutional rights due to his prolonged detention without formal charges.

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The Muslim Rights Concern had also condemned the prolonged detention of El-Rufai by security agencies, while his family members had urged that he be arraigned before a competent court, expressing concern over his prolonged detention.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the commission's Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, revealed that El-Rufai and Joel Adoga would be arraigned in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026 at the Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division.

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The charges against them include conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering, according to the commission.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission stated that it would arraign El-Rufai and Joel Adoga at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Kaduna Judicial Division on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in a suit with the number FHC/KD/73/2026, which encompasses charges ranging from conversion of and possession of public property to money laundering.

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A separate charge, marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, has been filed against El-Rufai and Amadu Sule before a Kaduna State High Court, with counts including abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.

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The anti-graft agency noted that the charges in the state case range from abuse of office and fraud to intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage, among others, and that both charges were filed by the ICPC on March 18, 2026.

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The date of arraignment in the State High Court will be communicated at the appropriate time, as determined by the court, the agency said, adding that the arraignment details for the state case would be announced later.

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El-Rufai had been duly served, and the ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to due process and the rule of law, ensuring that all procedures are followed accordingly.

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El-Rufai was initially detained by the EFCC on February 16, granted bail on February 18, and then immediately rearrested by the ICPC, and has since been in the ICPC's custody, with various calls for his arraignment mounting.