Tight security prevailed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday, as former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El‑Rufai was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on charges that include alleged money laundering and related offences.
El‑Rufai, who previously served as governor of Kaduna State, was brought to the court premises amid a strong security presence involving personnel drawn from the Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The heightened deployment included operatives stationed at strategic points around the court and nearby roads.
The ICPC earlier announced its intention to arraign El‑Rufai alongside Joel Adoga before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna’s Judicial Division, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The charges against them are contained in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.
In its notification, the ICPC said the counts against El‑Rufai and Adoga include alleged conversion of and possession of public property and money laundering.
The agency also disclosed that a separate set of charges, filed before the Kaduna State High Court, includes alleged abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage against El‑Rufai and another alleged accomplice, Amadu Sule.
The state case, marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, was filed on March 18, 2026, and the ICPC said it would communicate the arraignment date for that charge in due course.
Security was intensified around the court from early morning, with vehicular movement restricted on major routes approaching the court, including the Ungwan Sarki and Kawo axes.
Some motorists were directed into single lanes as armed personnel took positions around the federal court area.
El‑Rufai was reported to have arrived at the court in a vehicle just before proceedings began.
Journalists covering the event were barred from some sections of the court premises as officials managed access amid the security deployment.
Upon arrival at the court, El‑Rufai was escorted into the courtroom for official arraignment proceedings. The formal arraignment involved reading the charges against him and his co‑accused, as outlined by the anti‑graft agency.
The charges relate to allegations that activities during his time in public office involved financial misconduct, including the handling of public assets and funds.
The ICPC’s statement outlined that the offences attract penalties under relevant Nigerian anti‑corruption and money laundering laws.
The ICPC’s arraignment of El‑Rufai comes after a period of legal action involving several investigations.
Prior reports indicated that El‑Rufai was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in February, granted bail, and subsequently taken into the custody of the ICPC as part of extended probes into allegations of financial misconduct during his tenure.
Earlier charges and investigations in related matters have been covered by security agencies and have involved questions about financial conduct and public property management while in office.
