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, along with five others over an alleged N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract awarded during his administration.
The anti-corruption agency disclosed this in a statement published on its website on Thursday, noting that the defendants were brought before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna in Charge No. FHC/KD/93C/2026.
According to the commission, the amended 11-count charge centres on allegations of corruption, money laundering and related offences.
The defendants listed in the suit include El-Rufai, Lawal, Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.
The ICPC also named Bashir El-Rufai, identified as the elder brother of the former governor and currently at large, in one of the charges.
The commission alleged that while serving as governor, El-Rufai approved the award of a contract valued at N8.68 billion for the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system across Kaduna metropolis to Singularity Network Security Limited.
According to the agency, the company allegedly lacked the required experience and qualifications to execute the project, while funds connected to the contract were subsequently transferred through a network of companies and individuals.
The ICPC further claimed that between 2017 and 2022, the defendants received and possessed funds exceeding N2 billion through a series of transactions involving the companies named in the charge.
The commission maintained that the funds were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and that the alleged offences violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Part of the charge stated that El-Rufai allegedly approved the CCTV contract in favour of a company without the necessary expertise and in breach of procurement regulations, an action the commission described as unlawful.
When the charges were read in court, both El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty.
Following their pleas, Justice Buhari adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, when the court is expected to rule on the defendants’ bail applications.
The former governor is also facing a separate case instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of wiretapping the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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