ICPC Arraigns El-Rufai Over N8.68bn CCTV Contract

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, his former aide Jimi Lawal and five companies over allegations linked to an N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance project awarded during El-Rufai’s administration.

The case was brought before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna. According to the commission, the charges involve alleged corruption, money laundering and other related offences connected to the execution of the surveillance project.

Apart from El-Rufai and Lawal, the defendants include Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited. The commission also listed Bashir El-Rufai, identified as the former governor’s elder brother, as a person connected to one of the counts in the charge.

The ICPC alleged that while serving as governor, El-Rufai approved the award of a CCTV contract valued at more than N8.68 billion for the procurement, planning, design and installation of surveillance equipment across Kaduna metropolis. The commission claimed that the company awarded the contract lacked the required experience and qualifications for such a project.

Investigators further alleged that money connected to the contract was later moved through a chain of companies and individuals between 2017 and 2022. According to the agency, the transactions involved funds exceeding N2 billion, which it believes may have originated from unlawful activities.

The commission maintained that the alleged offences violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Prosecutors accused the defendants of receiving and possessing funds suspected to be proceeds of illegal transactions.

When the charges were read before the court, both El-Rufai and Lawal denied all allegations and entered not guilty pleas. The trial is expected to proceed after the court rules on the bail applications filed by the defendants.

Following the arraignment, Justice Buhari adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for a decision on the bail requests.
The former Kaduna governor is also involved in a separate legal matter initiated by the Department of State Services, which concerns allegations of illegally intercepting the phone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

The latest case adds to the growing legal battles surrounding the former governor as anti-corruption agencies continue investigations into activities carried out during his administration in Kaduna State.