ICPC Arraigns El-Rufai Over Alleged N8.68bn Fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai before the Federal High Court Kaduna over allegations linked to an N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract.

Also arraigned alongside the former governor were his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Adebisi Lawal, as well as five companies facing allegations of corruption, money laundering and other financial-related offences.

The matter was brought before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari under charge number FHC/KD/93C/2026 at the Federal High Court in Kaduna. According to the anti-corruption agency, the case centres on the award and execution of a major surveillance project intended for the Kaduna metropolis.

The companies named in the amended 11-count charge include Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited, and Noble Coast Resources Limited.

In addition, the commission mentioned Bashir El-Rufai, identified as an elder brother of the former governor, in one of the counts. The ICPC stated that he is currently at large.

According to the prosecution, the allegations arose from a contract involving the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a CCTV surveillance contract across Kaduna. Investigators claim that while serving as governor, El-Rufai approved the project valued at N8,682,574,054.94 in favour of Singularity Network Security Limited.

The ICPC charges further allege that the company did not possess the technical expertise or experience required to handle a project of that scale at the time the contract was awarded.

The ICPC charges against the defendants relate to the handling of funds connected to the project and the circumstances surrounding the award of the CCTV surveillance contract. The court is expected to continue proceedings as the parties present their cases and respond to the allegations.