Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai to Face Court Over Corruption Charges
Former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is set to appear in a Kaduna court on Tuesday, facing serious allegations including money laundering and abuse of power. His arraignment follows approximately five weeks of detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
The charges against El-Rufai, who is also the leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stem from indictments filed at both the Kaduna Division of the Federal High Court and the Kaduna State High Court.
El-Rufai has been held by the ICPC since his arrest on February 18, shortly after being released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Anti-corruption authorities secured an order from the Bwari Magistrate’s Court on February 19, permitting the detention for two weeks to facilitate the ongoing investigation. This order was subsequently extended for an additional two weeks on March 5.
On March 18, prior to the expiration of the remand order, the ICPC filed formal charges against the former governor, scheduling an initial arraignment for March 24. Now, as the court date approaches, he is expected to appear before the Kaduna Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, accompanied by co-defendant Joel Adoga, as confirmed by ICPC Media and Public Relations Director John Odei.
The case, numbered FHC/KD/73/2026, includes multiple charges, such as the conversion and possession of public property and engaging in money laundering activities. Additionally, El-Rufai faces separate allegations at the Kaduna State High Court, alongside Amadu Sule (LEDA), which encompass abuse of power, fraud, and the intent to defraud, among other accusations.
The ICPC filed both sets of charges on March 18, 2026, with the date for the arraignment at the State High Court yet to be determined by the court. According to ICPC, El-Rufai has officially served his sentence, and the commission has reiterated its commitment to upholding due process and the rule of law throughout the investigatory process.
In a related development, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja recently authorized the ICPC to access and analyze electronic devices seized from El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja. This permission was granted to support ongoing investigations, allowing for forensic examination and data extraction from devices including various storage drives and mobile phones.
The search of El-Rufai’s home last month resulted in the recovery of multiple electronic devices and documents, conducted with the presence of his family. Furthermore, the Department of State Services (DSS) has launched its own legal action against the former governor for allegedly wiretapping the phone of National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, complicating the array of charges he faces.
With his trial approaching, El-Rufai has maintained his innocence, asserting that the charges against him are politically motivated. As proceedings unfold, scrutiny will likely intensify around the implications of this case within the Nigerian political landscape.
