By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed a 10-count money laundering and conspiracy suit against former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and Joel Adoga, alleging unlawful possession and concealment of millions of naira and dollars while in public office. The charges were filed on 18 March 2026 at the Federal High Court in the Kaunda Judicial Division Holden at Kaduna.
According to the ICPC, the defendants allegedly engaged in multiple transactions that constituted proceeds of unlawful activity. The charges are as follows:
Count 1 & 2: El-Rufai is accused of receiving N289,826,998.12 in severance allowance in September 2020 and January 2023, far above his legitimate entitlement of N20,013,245.00, in breach of Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 3: Between September 2017 and March 2023, El-Rufai allegedly took control of $320,800 deposited into his Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account by Joel Adoga, funds the ICPC claims were proceeds of corruption and fraud.
Count 4: In May 2022, El-Rufai is said to have received $155,800 from Peter Akagu Jones (currently at large) into the same account, also suspected to be illicit.
Count 5: In the same month, he allegedly took possession of $305,300 from Ajayi Ayodele, funds similarly suspected to have unlawful origins.
Count 6 & 7: The former governor is accused of receiving $5,000 each in April and June 2016 from Umar Farouq and Umar Saleh respectively, which the ICPC says were part of fraudulent transactions.
Count 8: In December 2016, El-Rufai allegedly took $4,000 from Umar Farouk Saleh.
Count 9: In October 2017, he reportedly received $10,000 from Umar Farouq, also suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful act.
Count 10: The final count charges El-Rufai and Joel Adoga with conspiring in July 2019 to disguise the origin of $10,000 deposited into El-Rufai’s Guaranty Trust Bank account, again allegedly derived from corrupt practices.
The ICPC filing stresses that as a public officer, El-Rufai ought to have known that these funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts. The Commission alleges that the multiple dollar deposits were linked to fraudulent activities, including misappropriation of state funds and illicit dealings, while naira disbursements exceeded his lawful entitlements.
The suit was signed by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, Head of ICPC’s High Profile Prosecution Department, along with Chief Legal Officers Ngozi Onwuka and Dr. Akogwu Agada, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
If proven, the offences carry severe penalties under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, reinforcing the government’s stance on accountability and zero tolerance for financial crimes by public officers.
