ICPC Arraigns El-Rufai Before Kaduna State High Court

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has, on March 31, 2026, arraigned the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, before a State High Court in Kaduna State over a raft of corruption-related charges. El-Rufai was arraigned alongside one Amadu Sule before the Kaduna State High Court “on charges that include abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage while in office.”

Culture Custodian earlier reported that the ICPC had earlier arraigned El-Rufai alongside Joel Adoga before Justice A.I. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, in Kaduna. The 10-count charge included abuse of office, money laundering, and fraud. El-Rufai was accused of unlawfully receiving multiple sums of money in naira and foreign currencies while in public office.

The latest arraignment, however, came on the heels of a significant controversy where El-Rufai was released on March 27 on compassionate grounds to attend his mother’s burial, despite a subsisting remand order from the court. He was then re-arraigned on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Afterward, El-Rufai appeared at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, where his bail plea was scheduled to be heard, before he was returned to ICPC custody as the cases were being handled.

The two cases are distinct, though they both involve the same principal defendant and are prosecuted by the same anti-graft agency. The Federal High Court case involving Joel Adoga concerns conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering, while the State High Court charge, filed alongside Amadu Sule involves abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.