By Nkechi Eze
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has ordered a former Commissioner of Finance in Kaduna State and Chief of Staff to the immediate past Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Mr. Bashir Mohammed Saidu, alongside his co-defendant, Mr. Ibrahim Murktar, to open their defence in an ongoing N155 million money laundering trial instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
According to an official signed statement by the Head, Media and Public Communications, ICPC, Mr. J. Okor Odey, the ruling was delivered by Honourable Justice Rilwan Aikawa, who dismissed the no-case submissions filed by the defendants, holding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against them.
The Court ruled that, based on the totality of the evidence presented by the Commission, the defendants have questions to answer and must proceed to enter their respective defences.
Mr. Saidu and Mr. Murktar are facing a four-count charge bordering on money laundering offences under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The ICPC alleged that Mr. Murktar, who served as a cashier in the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance, withdrew a total sum of N155,000,000 in multiple cash tranches from the Kaduna State Exchange Gain Account. The funds were reportedly handed over through a proxy for the benefit of Mr. Saidu, in violation of established financial regulations.
The Commission further maintained that the transactions, conducted outside the formal banking system, were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
The trial, which commenced following the defendants’ arraignment on January 21, 2025, saw the prosecution call two witnesses and tender several exhibits before closing its case.
In response, the defendants filed no-case submissions, contending that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to require them to enter a defence. However, the Court rejected the argument, affirming that sufficient evidence had been placed before it necessitating explanations from the defendants.
The matter has been adjourned to June 22, 2026, for the defendants to open their defence, as the ICPC reiterated its commitment to pursuing corruption cases to their logical conclusion while promoting transparency and accountability in public service.
