The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed an amended nine-count charge against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged fraud, abuse of office, and corruption.
Counsel to the former governor, Ukpong Abang, disclosed this to journalists shortly after proceedings at the Kaduna State High Court.
Abang said the prosecution reviewed the earlier charges, dropping one of the defendants and leaving El-Rufai as the sole defendant in the case. He noted that the amended charges were served on the defence team in court, preventing immediate commencement of trial.
“The charges are entirely new to us. They were given to us this morning while we were already in court. That is why the matter could not proceed to a hearing,” he said, adding that the defence would study the new filings before taking further steps.
At the resumed sitting, the court took El-Rufai’s plea and heard arguments on his bail application before adjourning.
Bail Hearing, Custody Status
The development comes amid ongoing proceedings in multiple courts involving the former governor. A Federal High Court in Kaduna had earlier adjourned his bail application to April 14, 2026, ordering that he remain in ICPC custody pending the ruling.
El-Rufai has been in the custody of the anti-graft agency since mid-February, except for a brief compassionate release in late March to attend the burial of his mother.
He was returned to custody after subsequent court appearances in Kaduna, where proceedings in related cases have faced delays due to procedural issues, including the absence of a co-defendant in earlier hearings.
Details of the Charges
In the amended charge marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/2026, the ICPC alleged that El-Rufai committed multiple offences during his tenure as governor.
Among the allegations:
• He allegedly induced the Kaduna State Government in 2016 to approve about N11 billion for a light rail project that was never executed.
• He is accused of approving and receiving severance benefits running into hundreds of millions of naira, far above the legally permitted amount.
• The prosecution also alleged unlawful handling of over $1 million linked to a World Bank loan.
• Additional counts include alleged violations of procurement laws, conferring undue advantage on associates, and unlawful land allocations.
The ICPC further accused the former governor of attempting to influence investigators in the course of its probe.
Parallel Proceedings
The case before the Kaduna State High Court is separate from another ongoing trial at the Federal High Court, where El-Rufai is facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds, and abuse of office.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The high-profile case has continued to draw public attention, with legal observers noting that the outcome of the bail application scheduled for April 14 could determine the immediate course of proceedings.
