The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has brought former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Lawal, and five companies before the Federal High Court in Kaduna over an alleged N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract awarded during his tenure.
The anti-corruption agency disclosed the development in a statement published on its website on Thursday.
According to the commission, the defendants were arraigned before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari in Charge No. FHC/KD/93C/2026.
The ICPC stated that the amended 11-count charge involves allegations of corruption, money laundering, and other related offences.
Named in the charge 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 commission also identified Bashir El-Rufai, said to be an elder brother of the former governor and currently at large, as one of the individuals mentioned in the charges.
According to the agency, El-Rufai approved the award of a contract valued at N8.68 billion for the procurement, survey planning, final design, and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system across Kaduna metropolis while serving as governor.
Investigators alleged that the contract was awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited despite the company lacking the necessary experience and qualifications required for such a project. The commission further claimed that funds connected to the contract were later transferred through multiple companies and individuals.
The ICPC also alleged that between 2017 and 2022, the defendants received and possessed more than N2 billion through a series of transactions involving the companies listed in the charge sheet.
According to the commission, the funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count One reads, ‘’That you, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (M) sometime in December, 2015 or thereabout at Kaduna, Kaduna State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, 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 (Eight Billion, Six Hundred and Eighty-Two Million, Five Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand, Fifty-Four Naira, Ninety-Four Kobo) to Messrs. Singularity Network Security Limited, a company with no requisite experience and in violation of procurement laws, which act you knew was unlawful and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition)Act, 2022.’’
Both El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them in court.
Following the arraignment, Justice Buhari adjourned proceedings until July 1, 2026, when the court is expected to rule on the bail applications filed by the defendants.
Meanwhile, the former Kaduna governor is separately facing a case filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations that he was involved in the wiretapping of the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
