The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Mr. Jimi Adebisi Lawal, and five corporate entities before the Federal High Court in Kaduna over an alleged N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract fraud.
The defendants were arraigned on an 11-count amended charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering, and related offences before Honourable Justice Hauwa’u Buhari in Charge No. FHC/KD/93C/2026.
The amended charge listed Mallam El-Rufai as the first defendant alongside Mr. Lawal, Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited, and Noble Coast Resources Limited. Bashir El-Rufai, identified as an elder brother of the former governor and currently at large, was also mentioned in one of the counts.
According to an official signed statement by the Head, Media and Public Communications of the ICPC, Mr. J. Okor Odey, the Commission alleged that El-Rufai, while serving as Governor of Kaduna State, unlawfully approved the award of a contract for the procurement, survey planning, final design, and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system in Kaduna metropolis valued at ₦8,682,574,054.94.
The anti-corruption agency alleged that the contract was awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited despite the company allegedly lacking the requisite experience and qualifications required under public procurement laws.
The Commission further alleged that proceeds from the contract were subsequently transferred through several companies and individuals in transactions spanning multiple years.
In Count One of the amended charge, the ICPC accused the former governor of aiding an act of corruption by approving the CCTV contract in violation of procurement regulations, an action the Commission said contravenes provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The Commission also alleged that the defendants knowingly received, possessed, and moved funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. The transactions, according to the charge, involved more than ₦2 billion and were allegedly conducted through Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited, and Noble Coast Resources Limited between 2017 and 2022.
All the offences contained in the amended charge are alleged to be contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Both Mallam El-Rufai and Mr. Lawal pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read before the court.
Following their plea, Justice Buhari adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for ruling on the defendants’ bail application.
