Again, ICPC arraigns El-rufai over alleged CCTV contract fraud
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, his former Senior Special Adviser, Jimi Lawal, and five others over an alleged ₦8.68 billion CCTV contract fraud and money laundering case.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna on an 11-count amended charge bordering on corruption, money laundering, and related offences.
According to the ICPC, El-Rufai allegedly approved the award of a ₦8.68 billion contract for the procurement, survey planning, design, and installation of a CCTV surveillance system in Kaduna metropolis to Singularity Network Security Limited, a company the commission claims lacked the required experience and qualifications, in violation of procurement laws.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that proceeds from the contract were subsequently transferred through several companies and individuals, with transactions involving billions of naira traced between 2017 and 2022.
Among those listed in the amended charge are Jimi Lawal, Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited, and Noble Coast Resources Limited. Bashir El-Rufai, an elder brother of the former governor who is reportedly at large, was also mentioned in one of the counts.
The commission alleged that the defendants knowingly received and possessed funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
When the charges were read in court, both El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Justice Buhari subsequently adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for ruling on the defendants’ bail applications.
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