The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed a multi-count criminal charge against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of orchestrating a sprawling corruption scheme involving billions of naira, millions of dollars, and abuse of office.
Court documents show that the charges, filed before the Kaduna State High Court, detail allegations of contract fraud, diversion of public funds, illegal enrichment, and attempts to compromise federal investigators.
At the heart of the case is the controversial award of CCTV surveillance contracts in Kaduna State.
According to the ICPC, El-Rufai in December 2015 approved a contract worth ₦4.61 billion for the design, procurement, and installation of CCTV systems in Kaduna metropolis, awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited.
The commission alleged that the contract was awarded in clear violation of Kaduna State procurement laws.
In a separate count, prosecutors accused the former governor of awarding another contract worth $22.475 million to the same company for similar services, describing the move as a deliberate attempt to confer “unfair advantage” on the firm.
The ICPC said the repeated award of high-value contracts to a single company formed part of a wider scheme to siphon public funds under the guise of security infrastructure development.
In Count One of the charge, the ICPC accused El-Rufai of inducing the Kaduna State Government to pay ₦11 billion to Indokaduna MRTS JV Nigeria Limited—an unregistered entity—for a light rail project that was never executed.
The charge stated:
“That you… under false pretence, with intent to defraud, induced Kaduna State Government to confer a benefit… for the construction of a light rail project… which project was never executed.”
In another count, the commission alleged that El-Rufai diverted $1.085 million from a World Bank loan granted to Kaduna State.
The ICPC further accused El-Rufai and his son, Bashir Ahamad El-Rufai (currently at large), of conspiring to bribe federal investigators.
The alleged meetings reportedly took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Cairo, Egypt, in October 2025.
Prosecutors said the duo attempted to offer monetary inducements to investigators in Abuja to compromise ongoing probes involving Singularity Network Security Limited.
Across the charges, prosecutors argued that El-Rufai used his position as governor to confer undue advantage on allies and private entities, while allegedly undermining procurement laws and financial regulations.
The ICPC maintained that the actions constitute a pattern of systemic abuse of office, contract manipulation, and diversion of public resources.