Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Kaduna over an alleged N8.68 billion fraud linked to a CCTV surveillance contract.
Also charged alongside the former governor are his ex-Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Adebisi Lawal, as well as five companies accused of corruption, money laundering, and financial misconduct.
The case, marked FHC/KD/93C/2026, is being heard by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
The other defendants 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.
The anti-graft agency also mentioned Bashir El-Rufai, identified as the elder brother of the former governor, in one of the charges, noting that he is currently at large.
According to ICPC, the case is tied to the award of a contract for the procurement, planning, design, and installation of a CCTV surveillance system across Kaduna metropolis.
The commission alleged that El-Rufai approved the contract valued at over N8.68 billion while in office, awarding it to Singularity Network Security Limited despite claims that the company lacked the technical expertise and experience needed to execute the project.
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BACKSTORY…
The arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai from ICPC marks the latest development in a wider investigation into contracts awarded during his administration, particularly projects tied to security infrastructure in Kaduna State.
During his time in office, El-Rufai’s government launched several security initiatives, including plans to expand surveillance systems across Kaduna metropolis as part of efforts to tackle rising insecurity and improve public safety. The CCTV project was presented as a major step toward modernising security operations in the state.
However, concerns later emerged over the execution of some of those contracts, prompting scrutiny from anti-corruption agencies. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission began investigating allegations of irregularities, including claims that some contracts were awarded to companies without the required technical capacity.
The case has since attracted national attention because of El-Rufai’s political influence and his role as one of Nigeria’s prominent opposition figures, adding a political dimension to what remains an ongoing legal process.
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