Na big news dey ground as Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) don announce say dem go arraign former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, for Federal High Court for Kaduna tomorrow, Tuesday 24th March 2026. According to statement wey ICPC spokesperson John Okor Odey release on Monday, El-Rufai go face charges alongside one Joel Adoga for case wey dem mark as FHC/KD/73/2026.
ICPC tok say the charges concern conversion and possession of public property to money laundering. The commission add say dem don file another charge with number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26 against El-Rufai for Kaduna State High Court over mata wey concern abuse of office, fraud and intent to commit fraud. ICPC tok say dem file both charges on 18th March 2026, and dem dey committed to follow due process and rule of law.
Naija News report say ICPC dey investigate El-Rufai over allegations of financial misappropriation during his time as governor of Kaduna state from 2015 to 2023. The former governor don dey for ICPC custody since February 18, 2026. Before dem carry am go ICPC, Department of State Services (DSS) don grill El-Rufai over him allegation say dem tap phone of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Meanwhile, former presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, don warn say the continuous detention of El-Rufai by ICPC na political persecution. Obi talk am on Sunday when im meet with stakeholders of African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Kaduna. The ADC chieftain argue say the law allow people to treat with dignity until court find dem guilty.
“Na political persecution. We get law, and that law allow people to treat with dignity until dem find dem guilty. Make our law prevail. How you go tell person say you dey invite am, and im come back voluntarily for country by himself, and you dey treat am like person wey dey run away? No. Make law follow im cause. I don talk am. I don write about am, and I dey continue to talk am,” Peter Obi tok.
El-Rufai, wey be immediate past governor of Kaduna, don dey for ICPC custody since February 18. This one happen after dem transfer am from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). DSS don charge am with cybercrime, with court hearing wey dem set for April 23, 2026. But the ex-governor don file lawsuits against DSS and ICPC, accuse the agencies of abuse of power and unlawful detention.
ICPC tok say dem dey detain El-Rufai as investigations into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office dey deepen. The commission maintain say dem dey follow proper legal procedures and all actions dey based on evidence wey dem gather during investigation.
Legal experts for Naija dey watch the case with keen interest as e dey test the strength of anti-corruption institutions and rule of law for the country. Many Nigerians dey wait to see how the court cases go play out, especially as 2026 political season dey approach.
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