A former Nigerian governor is now standing before a federal court — and the charges are serious.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, his former Senior Special Adviser Jimi Lawal, and five other defendants over an alleged N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract fraud.
The arraignment took place before Justice Hauwa'u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, in Charge No. FHC/KD/93C/2026.
The Full List of Defendants
The ICPC filed an amended 11-count charge covering alleged corruption, money laundering, and related offences. The defendants listed are:
| # | Defendant |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (former governor) |
| 2 | Jimi Lawal (former Senior Special Adviser) |
| 3 | Singularity Network Security Limited |
| 4 | Solar Life Nigeria Limited |
| 5 | Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited |
| 6 | Intercellular Nigeria Limited |
| 7 | Noble Coast Resources Limited |
The commission also named Bashir El-Rufai — identified as an elder brother of the former governor — in one of the counts. He is currently at large.
What the ICPC Says Happened
According to the anti-graft agency, El-Rufai — while serving as governor — approved the award of a contract for the procurement, survey planning, final design, and installation of a CCTV surveillance system across Kaduna metropolis.
The contract was valued at N8,682,574,054.94 — nearly N8.7 billion.
It was awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited.
The ICPC alleges the company had no requisite experience or qualifications for a project of that scale, and that the award violated procurement laws.
Where the Money Went
This is where the money laundering angle comes in.
The ICPC alleges that funds linked to the contract were transferred through a network of companies and individuals — the firms named in the charge sheet.
The commission says the defendants received and possessed funds exceeding N2 billion between 2017 and 2022, through a series of transactions involving those companies.
Those funds, the ICPC alleges, were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities — a direct violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
What Count One Actually Says
Count One of the charge reads in part:
"...while being the Executive Governor of Kaduna State aided an act of corruption, when you approved the award of contract for the procurement of survey planning, final design and installation of CCTV at Kaduna metropolis in the reviewed sum of N8,682,574,054.94 to Messrs. Singularity Network Security Limited, a company with no requisite experience and in violation of procurement laws..."
The alleged offence is said to contravene Section 21(a) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Their Response in Court
Both El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in open court.
Justice Buhari adjourned the case until July 1, 2026, to rule on the defendants' bail applications.
This Is Not His Only Legal Battle
El-Rufai is also facing a separate case instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) — involving allegations of wiretapping the phone of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Two active legal cases against a former governor is a rare and significant development in Nigeria's anti-corruption landscape.
Public procurement fraud is not new to Nigeria — but prosecutions of sitting or former governors remain politically charged and closely watched.
The ICPC's decision to go after a high-profile defendant like El-Rufai signals a possible shift in how Nigeria's anti-corruption agencies are pursuing accountability. Whether that momentum holds through trial will be the real test.
For readers tracking Nigeria's financial and regulatory environment, our guide on how to get out of debt fast explores personal financial resilience, while the cybersecurity and finance Nigeria guide covers how financial crimes — including digital fraud — are reshaping Nigeria's banking sector.
According to Reuters, Nigeria's anti-corruption drive has intensified under international pressure, with the ICPC and EFCC both expanding the scope of prosecutions in recent years. A Bloomberg report on African governance noted that procurement fraud in infrastructure contracts remains one of the most persistent drains on public funds across sub-Saharan Africa.
The case returns to court on July 1, 2026. The WealthBlueprint NewsDesk will follow it closely.
Reported by the WealthBlueprint NewsDesk | June 25, 2026