On Tuesday morning, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) charged Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, before a Federal High Court in Kaduna.
El-Rufai, who entered at the court under tight security, is facing allegations of alleged N579 million and $320,800 money laundering.
.The former governor is being prosecuted by the ICPC on charges of illegally taking cash considerably exceeding his legally allowed severance allowance.
Prosecutors suspect that El-Rufai abused his position by accepting exaggerated severance payments and engaged in financial transactions using the proceeds of illegal conduct.
Allegations of receiving foreign currency payments through his domiciliary account and conspiring to conceal illegal funds in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 are also included in the charges.
Additional information
El-Rufai reportedly collected N289.8 million as severance payment twice, in September 2020 and January 2023, according to the charge sheet. The total amount was almost N579 million, much more than the constitutionally allowed amount of approximately N20 million.
In separate counts, prosecutors further alleged that the former governor received multiple foreign currency inflows into his Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account from different individuals, raising concerns over illicit transfers and possible concealment of funds.
The arraignment is ongoing at the Federal High Court in Kaduna
El-Rufai’s present legal issues are the result of prior security agency actions that began in mid-February.
He was charged on three counts by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly intercepting communications connected to the National Security Adviser without authorization.
El-Rufai was then invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and on February 16, after accepting the invitation, he was arrested. On February 18, he was given bail.
But soon after his release, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission arrested him, signaling the ongoing legal investigation by several agencies.
The series of incidents draws attention to a larger inquiry into the former governor’s alleged financial misbehavior and violations of national security.
