The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed an amended nine-count charge against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, over allegations bordering on fraud, abuse of office and corruption.
At the resumed sitting of the Kaduna State High Court, the prosecution revised its earlier charges, removing one of the defendants and naming El-Rufai as the sole defendant in the case.
Counsel to the former governor, Ukpong Abang, told journalists that the defence team was served with the amended charges in court shortly before proceedings commenced. According to him, the development made it impossible for the case to proceed to hearing.
“The charges are entirely new to us. They were given to us this morning while we were already in court. That is why the matter could not proceed,” Abang said.
He added that the defence would carefully review the new charges before taking a position.
“We will analyse the charges and make our position known. For now, there is nothing we can do until we have fully reviewed them,” he stated.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to Tuesday, April 14, for ruling on the defendant’s bail application.
The Allegations Against El-Rufai
In the charge marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/2026, the ICPC alleged that the former governor committed multiple offences during his tenure in office.
Among the allegations, the commission accused El-Rufai of inducing the Kaduna State Government in 2016 to confer a benefit of N11 billion on Indokaduna MRTS JV Nigeria Limited for a light rail project said to have been unexecuted.
The prosecution also alleged that he approved and received severance benefits amounting to about N289.8 million, exceeding the legally approved N20 million.
In another count, the ICPC claimed that the former governor dishonestly disposed of over $1 million, reportedly part of a World Bank loan to Kaduna State, contrary to the terms of the agreement.
The charges further include allegations of attempting to influence federal investigators, violations of procurement procedures in the award of a CCTV contract, conferring undue advantage on associates, and unlawful land allocations.
What Happens Next
The case is expected to continue with the court’s ruling on the bail application at the next adjourned date on Tuesday, April 14.
The defence team has indicated it will review the new charges before taking a position. Whether El-Rufali will enter a plea at the next hearing remains to be seen, as his counsel has argued that the amended charges were served too late for proper preparation.
For now, the former governor remains at the centre of a high-profile corruption case that has drawn significant public attention in Kaduna State and across Nigeria.
