The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday arraigned Nasir El-Rufai, before a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna over alleged corruption-related offences.
The presiding judge, Rilwanu Aikawa, adjourned the matter to March 31 for the hearing of pending applications, including the defendant’s bail application.
El-Rufai and Joel Adoga who we joined in count 10 of the 10 count charge, pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Journalists were barred from covering the proceedings, and no reason was given for restricting media access to the courtroom.
However, Obong Abang, counsel to El-Rufai, who spoke with journalists after the proceedings, said the adjournment was to allow the court hear applications that may be pending.
According to Obong, “The charges against Mallam El Rufai amount basically to allegations of deposit of money into his domiciliary account and monetization of his earnings.
“They finally joined Joel Adoga on the 10th count. Out of 10 counts, they joined him on only one.
“What we have now is that they (ICPC) applied to arraign, and I respectfully pointed out that since Madam El- Rufai has proceeding spending, with respect to the judge himself, the judge cannot proceed”.
He added that, “The judge, in his wisdom, decided to proceed with the arraignment and in his own wisdom, also adjourned the matter for applications that may be pending to be heard on the 31st of March.
“That’s all that happened. Bail was filed today, and it was adjourned to March 31 for hearing.”
Counsel to the ICPC left the premises immediately after proceedings.
El-Rufai was brought to the court premises by security operatives at about 9.00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle and was held there for about 25 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom.
He was dressed in a light green babanriga with a matching cap and appeared unperturbed.
Security was tight within and around the court premises, with armed operatives deployed along the busy Anguwan Sarki to Kawo axis, causing heavy traffic congestion.
Family members of the former governor, including his two wives and his son, Bello El-Rufai, a federal lawmaker representing Kaduna North, were present at the sitting.
The former governor has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 19 over allegations bordering on corrupt practices.
The 10 count charge against the former governor, and Joel Adoga, filed on 18 March 2026
are as follows:
COUNT 1
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M) sometime in September 2020 or thereabout at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of N289,826,998.12 (Two Hundred and Eighty-Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Eight Naira, Twelve Kobo) as severance allowance over and above your legitimately entitled sum of N20,013,245.00 (Twenty Million, Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Five Naira) which represents 300% of your annual basic salary which you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2}(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition} Act, 2022.
COUNT 2
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M), sometime in January 2023 or thereabout at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of N289,826,998.12 (Two Hundred and Eighty-Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Eight Naira, Twelve Kobo) as severance allowance over and above your legitimately entitled sum of N20,013,245.00 (Twenty Million, Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Five Naira) which represents 300% of your annual basic salary which you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2}(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
COUNT 3
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M) sometime between September 2017 and March 2023 or thereabout at Kaduna and Abuja respectively, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took control of the total sum of $320,800 (Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Eight Hundred Dollars) deposited into your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account number: 0023824985 in different tranches by one Joel Adoga, when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2}(d) and punishable under Section 18{3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 4
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M) sometime in May 2022 or thereabout at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of $155,800 (One Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand, Eight Hundred Dollars) deposited into your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account number: 0023824985 by one Peter Akagu Jones (now at large), when you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2}(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 5
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M) sometime in May 2022 or thereabout at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of $305,300 (Three Hundred and Five Thousand, Three Hundred Dollars) deposited into your Guaranty Trust Bank (domiciliary) account number: 0023824985 by one Ajayi Ayodele (now at large), when you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3)of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 6
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M) sometime in April, 2016 or thereabout at Asokoro, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of $5,000.00 (Seven Thousand Dollars), deposited into your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account number: 0023824985 by one Umar Farouq (now at large) when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2}{d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 7
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M) sometime in June 2016 or thereabout at Asokoro, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of $5,000.00 (Five Thousand Dollars), deposited into your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account number: 0023824985 by one Umar Saleh (now at large) when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed and offence contrary to Section 18(2)(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 8
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M) sometime in December 2016 or thereabout at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State. directly took possession of the sum of $4,000.00 (Four Thousand Dollars), deposited into your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account number: 0023824985 by one Umar Farouk Saleh (now at large) when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 9
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M) sometime in October 2017 or thereabout at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Dollars), deposited into your Guaranty Trust Bank (domiciliary) account number: 0023824985 by one Umar Farouq (now at large) when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. 2022.
COUNT 10
That you MALLAM NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI (M), JOEL ADOGA (M) sometime in July 2019 or thereabout at Wuse, Abuja within the – jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire to disguise the origin of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Dollars) which sum was deposited into the Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account number: 0023824985 belonging to Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, when you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 21 and 18(2){a}) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
