The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed an amended charge against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of multiple counts of corruption, fraud, and abuse of office.
The revised charge, which now contains nine counts, was presented before the Kaduna State High Court, with the anti-graft agency dropping one of the earlier co-defendants, leaving El-Rufai as the sole accused in the case.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ukpong Abang, said the defence team was taken by surprise as the amended charges were served on them in court.
He explained that the development made it impossible for the defence to proceed with the hearing.
According to him, the legal team would need time to thoroughly study the fresh allegations before responding.
The court, however, proceeded to take the defendant’s plea and also listened to his bail application.
Justice Darius Khobo subsequently adjourned the matter to April 14 for a ruling on the bail request.
In the charge marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/2026, the ICPC alleged that El-Rufai was involved in an N11 billion fraud linked to a proposed light rail project in Kaduna State.
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The commission claimed that the former governor facilitated the approval of funds for the project, which was never executed.
The anti-corruption agency also accused him of using his office to approve and receive severance benefits totaling about N289.8 million, far exceeding the legally approved N20 million.
In another allegation, El-Rufai was said to have mismanaged over $1 million from a World Bank loan granted to Kaduna State, in breach of the loan agreement.
The ICPC further alleged that the former governor conspired with individuals still at large to offer inducements to federal investigators in an attempt to compromise an ongoing investigation.
Other charges include alleged violations of procurement laws in the award of a multi-billion-naira CCTV contract, conferring undue advantage on associates, and unlawful land allocations during his tenure.
El-Rufai was earlier arraigned alongside businessman Amadu Sule on similar allegations, but the updated charge now excludes Sule from the case.
The former governor had previously been in ICPC custody from February 19 to March 28, before being granted compassionate release to attend his mother’s burial.
The case continues as the court prepares to deliver its ruling on the bail application.
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