Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division, over allegations of illegally collecting N579 million as severance allowance and receiving suspicious deposits totaling $781,900 in his domiciliary account.
According to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), El-Rufai was entitled to only N40 million after completing his two terms in office. The commission alleged that he illegally took N289.8 million twice—once in September 2020 and again in January 2023—amounting to over 300% of his legitimate severance allowance.
The ICPC also accused the former governor of receiving multiple foreign currency deposits into his Guaranty Trust Bank account between September 2017 and March 2023, with contributions from a staff member and other individuals, some of whom have fled the country. Among the deposits highlighted were $320,800 from Joel Adoga, $155,800 from Peter Akagu Jones, and $305,300 from Ajayi Ayodele.
El-Rufai has denied all allegations and applied for bail, which the court will rule on Tuesday. The prosecution opposed the bail request, citing potential interference with ongoing investigations.
Security was heightened around the court premises during the arraignment, with the Department of State Services, police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed. Reporters were barred from entering the courtroom, and vehicular movements were restricted, causing traffic congestion in the area.
El-Rufai’s son, Bello, and a few supporters attended the proceedings to show solidarity.
The Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI) commended the ICPC for its handling of the case, emphasizing the importance of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. In a statement, the group said: “The actions taken by the ICPC serve as a powerful reminder that corruption will not be tolerated, and that those in positions of power are not above the law.”
