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 others before the Federal High Court in Kaduna over an alleged ₦8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, the defendants were arraigned on an 11-count amended charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and related offences in Charge No. FHC/KD/93C/2026 before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari. The charge also lists Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited as defendants, while Bashir El-Rufai, identified as the former governor’s elder brother, is mentioned in one of the counts and is said to be at large.
The Commission alleged that while serving as Governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai unlawfully approved the award of a contract valued at ₦8,682,574,054.94 for the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system in Kaduna metropolis to Singularity Network Security Limited, a company it claims lacked the requisite experience and qualifications, contrary to public procurement laws.
ICPC further alleged that proceeds from the contract were transferred through several companies and individuals between 2017 and 2022, with transactions involving more than ₦2 billion. The Commission stated that the offences contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, relating to the possession, receipt and movement of funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
Both Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and Mr. Jimi Adebisi Lawal pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read in court. Justice Hauwa’u Buhari subsequently adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for ruling on the defendants’ bail applications.
