By Nkechi Eze
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and six others will return to court on December 8, 2026, for the continuation of their trial over alleged corruption and money laundering involving an ₦8.68 billion Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance contract.
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna fixed the date following requests for adjournment by the newly appointed prosecution counsel and the new lawyer representing El-Rufai, the first defendant in the case.
According to an official statement signed by the Head of Media and Public Communications of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), J. Okor Odey, the case came up before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Kaduna Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.
The new prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Muktar, informed the court of changes in the prosecution team and sought an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and familiarise himself with previous proceedings.
Similarly, Mustapha Abubakar, SAN, who recently took over as counsel to El-Rufai, requested more time to acquaint himself with the details of the case.
The judge granted the requests and adjourned the substantive trial to December 8, 2026, for hearing.
Meanwhile, the court fixed October 16, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application filed by the second defendant, Jimi Adebisi Lawal, a former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor to the former governor.
The ICPC had, on June 25, 2026, arraigned El-Rufai, Lawal and five corporate entities on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and related offences.
The corporate defendants are Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.
The case, marked FHC/KD/93C/2026, centres on the award of an ₦8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract for Kaduna metropolis during El-Rufai’s administration.
The commission alleged that the contract was awarded in violation of applicable public procurement requirements and involved a company that lacked the requisite experience and qualifications.
The defendants have denied the allegations, which remain subject to judicial determination.
The ICPC said it remained committed to pursuing the case in accordance with due process, the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all parties involved.
