ICPC Files Fresh Charges Against Nasir El-Rufai

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has slapped fresh criminal charges on former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and seven co-accused over alleged fraud and money laundering tied to a ₦10.8 billion CCTV security project in the state.

According to court documents filed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on April 17, the anti-graft agency brought 11 counts against the former governor and the other defendants under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

A former Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Chairman of Liberty Television, Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan, disclosed the development in a post on his Facebook page.

Ramalan said El-Rufai and the seven other accused persons would soon face the new charges.

The ICPC alleged that El-Rufai approved the award of an ₦8.68bn CCTV contract in December 2015 to a company it claimed lacked the required competence.

The commission also alleged that several large sums were received and transferred between 2017 and 2022 by individuals and companies linked to the project.

The firms mentioned include Singularity Network Security Limited and other companies allegedly connected to the CCTV security project.

Others named in the case include a former Kaduna State government official, Jimi Lawal; senior executives of IHS Towers; and five companies.

One of El-Rufai’s sons, Bashir El-Rufai, was also mentioned in the allegations but was not listed as a defendant.

The fresh charge is the third set of charges filed by the ICPC against the former governor since March.

El-Rufai is already facing separate corruption-related cases involving other state projects, including a light rail contract and severance payments.

He had denied wrongdoing in earlier court appearances.

Other agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), are also investigating or prosecuting him over separate allegations.