ICPC Arraigns El-Rufai, Ex-Aide And Five Firms Over N8.68bn Kaduna CCTV Contract

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, his former Senior Special Adviser Jimi Lawal, and five companies over an alleged N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract awarded during his time as governor.

Vanguard and Premium Times reported that the defendants were arraigned before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, in the amended 11-count charge marked FHC/KD/93C/2026.

The five companies named alongside El-Rufai and Lawal are Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.

The ICPC alleged that El-Rufai approved a contract for the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a closed-circuit television surveillance system in the Kaduna metropolis at a reviewed cost of N8.68 billion in favour of Singularity Network Security Limited.

The commission alleged that the company lacked the requisite experience and qualifications for the project, in violation of public procurement laws. Premium Times reported that the ICPC filed the charges in April, before this week’s arraignment.

Premium Times reported that the defendants allegedly received or took possession of more than N2bn through a series of transactions involving the five companies between 2017 and 2022, in funds the commission said were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Bashir El-Rufai, identified in the charge as an elder brother of the former governor, was named in one of the counts and is currently at large, according to the reports.

The alleged offences are brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Both El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.

Vanguard reported that the court subsequently adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications of the defendants.

This is a new stage in the long-running El-Rufai corruption cases. NaijaTrend previously reported his earlier ICPC prosecution on different charges here.

Sources: Vanguard, Premium Times