The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, alongside his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Lawal, and five other defendants over an alleged N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract awarded during his administration.
The anti-corruption agency disclosed the development in a statement issued on Thursday, noting that the defendants were brought before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, in a case marked FHC/KD/93C/2026.
According to the commission, the defendants are facing an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and related financial offences.
The ICPC listed El-Rufai as the first defendant in the suit alongside Lawal, Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited. The agency also named Bashir El-Rufai, identified as an elder brother of the former governor and currently at large, in one of the counts.
The commission alleged that while serving as governor, 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.
According to the ICPC, the contract was awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited despite the company allegedly lacking the requisite technical experience and qualifications required to execute a project of such magnitude.
Investigators further alleged that funds linked to the contract were subsequently transferred through a network of companies and individuals in transactions suspected to be connected to unlawful activities.
The commission claimed that between 2017 and 2022, the defendants received and possessed funds exceeding N2 billion through various transactions involving the companies named in the charge sheet.
According to the agency, the funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
One of the charges alleges that El-Rufai, while serving as governor, aided an act of corruption by approving the contract award in violation of procurement regulations, despite allegedly knowing that the beneficiary company lacked the capacity and experience required for the project.
When the charges were read before the court, both El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty to all counts preferred against them.
Following the plea, counsel for the defendants applied for bail, while the prosecution urged the court to consider the applications in line with legal procedures.
Justice Buhari subsequently adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications filed by the defendants.
The case adds to the legal challenges currently facing the former Kaduna governor, who is also standing trial in a separate matter instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations of illegally intercepting communications linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The ICPC stated that investigations into the CCTV contract formed part of its broader efforts to strengthen accountability and transparency in public procurement and the management of public funds.