Former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai will be arraigned in court on Tuesday after spending more than 35 days in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the agency announced on Monday. El Rufai, who was arrested on February 18 shortly after being released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), faces multiple charges ranging from money laundering and conversion of public property to abuse of office, fraud, and conferring undue advantage. The ICPC has filed charges in two separate courts — the Federal High Court in Kaduna and the Kaduna State High Court — marking the most significant legal action yet in the former governor’s widening corruption probe.
Two Court Cases, Multiple Charges
According to ICPC spokesperson John Odey, El Rufai will be arraigned alongside Joel Adoga on Tuesday, March 24, at the Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division, under suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.
The charges include: conversion of public property, possession of public property, and money laundering
A second case, filed at the Kaduna State High Court under suit number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, lists additional charges against El Rufai and co defendant Amadu Sule (LEDA), including abuse of office, fraud and intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage. The ICPC said the date for the state court arraignment will be announced once the court schedules it. “El Rufai has been duly served,” the agency said, adding that it remains committed to “due process and the rule of law.”
35 Days in Custody After EFCC Release
El Rufai’s legal troubles intensified after the EFCC released him on February 18. The ICPC immediately took him into custody and secured a two week remand order from a Bwari magistrate court on February 19. The order was extended on March 5 for another two weeks. Before the second remand order expired, the ICPC filed formal charges on March 18, paving the way for Tuesday’s arraignment.
Court Grants ICPC Access to Seized Devices
In a related development, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja recently granted the ICPC permission to access and forensically analyze electronic devices seized from El Rufai’s Abuja residence. The devices include: Multiple external hard drives; Samsung, Nokia, Blackberry and ZTE mobile phones; a MacBook Pro; a Remarkable tablet; Ten flash drives, and a Microcell memory card.
The court authorised investigators to extract WhatsApp messages, call logs, text messages, pictures, documents and other data relevant to the corruption probe. The devices were seized during a search conducted in the presence of El Rufai’s wife and son.
Separately, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed charges against El Rufai for allegedly wiretapping the phone lines of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. His arraignment in that case has been delayed pending the ICPC investigation.
The former governor, a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has repeatedly denied all allegations, insisting that the investigations are politically motivated. His supporters argue that the timing of the charges; coming months after he fell out with key political actors, suggests an attempt to neutralize him ahead of future political contests.
Security is expected to be tight around the Federal High Court in Kaduna as El Rufai appears before a judge for the first time since his arrest. The case is one of the most closely watched corruption prosecutions in recent years, involving a former governor, former minister, and one of the most influential political figures in northern Nigeria.
 |
|
