₦airaland Forum

After spending about a month and five days in custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai would on Tuesday be formally arraigned in Kaduna courts for various offences ranging from money laundering to abuse of office.

The arraignment follows the filing of charges against the former governor and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) both at the Kaduna division of the Federal High Court and a High Court of Kaduna State. el-Rufai has been in custody of the ICPC since his arrest on February 18, shortly after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-corruption agency had on February 19, obtained an order of a Bwari magistrate court to detain el-Rufai for two weeks for the purpose of investigation. The order was subsequently extended on March 5, for another two weeks.

However, before the expiration of the remand order, the commission on March 18, filed charges against the former governor, following which he would be arraigned on March 24. According to the Head, Media and Public Communications, ICPC, John Odey, the former governor would be arraigned alongside one Joel Adoga at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Kaduna Judicial Division on Tuesday,
March 24, 2026.

“The suit with number FHC/KD/73/2026 has charges ranging from conversion of and possession of public property, to money laundering”, Odey disclosed in a statement issued to journalists on Monday.

He added that el-Rufai in another charge, number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, would be arraigned alongside one Amadu Sule (LEDA), before a Kaduna State High Court in the Kaduna Judicial Division.

[b]“The charges in the State High Court case range from abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud to conferring undue advantage, among others.

“Both charges were filed by the ICPC on March 18, 2026.

“The date of arraignment in the State High Court will be communicated at the appropriate time as determined by the Court.

“The ICPC wishes to inform the public that Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i has been duly served.

“The ICPC restates its commitment to adhering fully to due process and the rule of law at all times”, the statement added.

Recall that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court in Abuja, had recently granted permission to ICPC to access and analyse data from electronics devises it recently recovered from the Abuja residence of the former governor of Kaduna State.

The judge gave the permission while delivering ruling in an ex-parte application filed and moved by the commission’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha. The anti-corruption agency claimed it needed to access the devices for the purposes of inspection, forensic examination, and forensic extraction of data in furtherance of its ongoing investigation of the ex-governor.

The devices included a Sony HD-EGS storage device, a ITB Transcend storage device, Toshiba storage device, Samsung mobile phone, Nokia mobile phone – N958GB, Blackberry mobile phone device and a Google IDEOS phone. Others are Samsung storage device-SPO802N, Remarkable tablet, Apple MacBook Pro – black, Seagate Freeagent desk external drive, ZTE mobile phone, 10 pieces of flash drives and Microcell memory card.

Justice Abdulmalik had in the ruling, ordered the inspection, forensic examination, forensic extraction of data, i.e., public documents, WhatsApp conversations, text messages, pictures, call logs and related information and analyse same forensically or otherwise from the said electronic devices which were seized in the course of investigation for purpose of investigation activity. The ICPC had last month following a search order entered the Abuja residence of El-Rufai and obtained the said electronic devices among other documents, in the presence of his wife and son.

Meanwhile, the Department of State Service (DSS), had already charged the former governor to court for allegedly wiretapping the phone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. His arraignment before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court has been delayed by his investigation by the ICPC.

But, el-Rufai who has continued to maintain his innocence in all the allegations has been insisting that his trial was politically motivated.

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/03/23/finally-icpc-files-multiple-charges-against-el-rufai-to-be-arraigned-in-kaduna-tuesday/

El-Rufai....hmmmm...what exactly does he want?

nobody is above the law.

We’re waiting to hear all about the extension cord phone tapping equipment they found in his home that made them keep him in detention for this long.

Meanwhile this is how proceedings are going

givedemwotowoto:
Court Proceedings:

Charge: “Interception of the National Security Adviser’s Phone Call”

Judge: Prosecutor, proceed.

Prosecutor: On Friday, February 13, 2026, Mr. Nasir claimed that someone tapped the phone call of the National Security Adviser and provided the information to him.

Judge: Do you have evidence that the phone call of the NSA was intercepted?

Prosecutor: Yes, My Lord.

Judge: What is your evidence?

Prosecutor: He said it himself. His own admission is my evidence.

Defense: My Lord, are we now prosecuting people for what they say without proof that the act occurred?

Prosecutor: If someone publicly claims to have committed an offense, that is sufficient basis for prosecution.

Defense: So if someone claims on television that they can fly, do we charge them for violating aviation laws?

Prosecutor: That is different.

Defense: How?

Prosecutor: Because flying without authorization is impossible.

Defense: And intercepting the NSA’s phone call without access, tools, infrastructure, or evidence is…?

Judge: Prosecutor, do you have technical evidence? Call logs? Forensic data? Telecom confirmation?

Prosecutor: No, My Lord. But he said it.

Defense: So the State’s case is built on a headline?

Prosecutor: On his statement.

Defense: Then by that standard, every exaggeration, boast, or political rhetoric becomes a criminal confession?

Judge: Prosecutor, is the court to understand that you have no independent verification that any interception occurred?

Prosecutor: That is correct, My Lord.

Judge: Then what exactly has been intercepted here? A phone call… or common sense?

He helped Tinubu get into power, yeah?

Meanwhile, Whatever El-Rufai is going through right now wouldn't have been compared to what Peter Obi would have gone through if he were a corrupt person.

Forever Respect to PETER OBI.

givedemwotowoto:
We’re waiting to hear all about the extension cord phone tapping equipment they found in his home that made them keep him in detention for this long.

Meanwhile this is how proceedings are going

And the day El-rufai finds himself back to power either as a President or Vice, he will open a corruption charge against Tinubu who by then is an ex President, same treatment will be meted to all those whom Tinubu used to get El-Rufai to this stage of his life and the circle continues. El-Rufai is a cat with 9 lives.

veekid:
He helped Tinubu get into power, yeah?

And he’s also using his connections with Bandits & Boko Haram to destabilize the Country simply because he was rejected for a Ministerial Slot.

He wiretapped the NSA phones and even had to the audacity to come on T.V and reveal it because he thinks he’s above the law.

He must have thought he was still dealing with the docile & helpless “Southern Kaduna Christians”.

This is now the same fanatical Jihadist that the “directionless Obidients” are now rallying behind. Very Shameful & Hypocritical!

After spending about a month and five days in custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences

See after God na government...
Who would have taught that mallam nasiru would be brought before court??

Anyway, I no too blame governors way they decamp
Those ones are very corrupt, they can't show any real thing, to the money given to them by the government

I have no issue with this arraignment to court, but it raises a question: why are some individuals accused of corruption moving about freely without any interference? Some have even been appointed as ambassadors by the current administration. If El-Rufai were still aligned with the present government, would the ICPC have arrested him?

RISQUE:
And the day El-rufai finds himself back to power either as a President or Vice, he will open a corruption charge against Tinubu who by then is an ex President, same treatment will be meted to all those whom Tinubu used to get El-Rufai to this stage of his life and the circle continues. El-Rufai is a cat with 9 lives.

Make I no lie to you El Rufai no dey see anything again. The people of Kaduna don curse am

edogu:
I have no issue with this arraignment to court, but it raises a question: why are some individuals accused of corruption moving about freely without any interference? Some have even been appointed as ambassadors by the current administration. If El-Rufai were still aligned with the present government, would the ICPC have arrested him?

If you like go offend government

Things fall apart 🤷🏿

Life na turn by turn.

Now, it's clear why everyone is moving to APC.

ICPC/EFCC get huge files on them.

Ok.
Let the law take its course.

veekid:
He helped Tinubu get into power, yeah?

Meanwhile, Whatever El-Rufai is going through right now wouldn't have been compared to what Peter Obi would have gone through if he were a corrupt person.

Forever Respect to PETER OBI.

God bless you, you just nailed it, Obi don't have a loophole, I believe they've been searching to see if there'll be a loopholes, but they didn't,even if they find it won't be enough or break of constitution of the country.
Nigeria must succeed.......

That’s how Nigeria politics run

Saturnalia:
And he’s also using his connections with Bandits & Boko Haram to destabilize the Country simply because he was rejected for a Ministerial Slot.

He wiretapped the NSA phones and even had to the audacity to come on T.V and reveal it because he thinks he’s above the law.

He must have thought he was still dealing with the docile & helpless “Southern Kaduna Christians”.

This is now the same fanatical Jihadist that the “directionless Obidients” are now rallying behind. Very Shameful & Hypocritical!

How come Americans violated our sovereignty because of Christian genocide last year, when El Rufai was no longer governor and not even in this clueless city boy government

edogu:
I have no issue with this arraignment to court, but it raises a question: why are some individuals accused of corruption moving about freely without any interference?

Some have even been appointed as ambassadors by the current administration. If El-Rufai were still aligned with the present government, would the ICPC have arrested him?

Those moving freely and even appointed ambassadors, are the ones loyal to the Ogas at the top of Oshiomhole’s Assembly of Past Crooks, APC.

chisomkachy:
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the alleged money laundering suit it filed at the Federal High Court against Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

Naija News understands that the anti-graft did not give any particular reason for its application for withdrawal.

Following the application to withdraw, Justice Nicholas Oweibo discharged the ‘lien/Post No Debit’ placed on Obasa’s three accounts in Standard Chartered Bank.

The accounts are (US Dollars) 0001852063; (Current) 0001852056 and (Saving) 5002309624.

The judge also set aside the ex-parte orders he made on September 15, 2020, which led to the freezing of the accounts.

Recall that the court on September 15, 2020, granted an interim order freezing Obasa’s accounts following the EFCC’s application in a suit marked FHC/LCS/1064/2020.

The agency had said it was investigating the Speaker for the alleged offences of conspiracy, diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering.

But Justice Oweibo, on August 16, 2023, heard the application to unfreeze the accounts in his chamber.

During the hearing, the EFCC was represented by Mr. Sulaiman I. Sulaiman, while Obasa was represented by Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).

The EFCC lawyer told the court that the application to unfreeze the accounts was pursuant to Section 44(2)(K) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 26, 29 and 34 (1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Section 44 of the Constitution concerns constitutional rights to property.

Justice Oweibo held: “It is hereby ordered that an order is hereby granted to the respondent/applicant setting aside the ex-parte orders of this court made on the 15th day of September 2020 upon the ex-parte motion of the Applicant/ Respondent in relation the funds of the Respondent/Applicant domiciled in the accounts stated in the following schedule:

“ACCOUNT NAME, FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INSTITUTIONS, TYPE OF ACCOUNT, 1. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered, (US Dollars) 0001852063 2. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Current) 0001852056 3. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Saving) 5002309624.

“Issued at Lagos, under the seal of this Honourable Court and by the hands of the Presiding Judge this 16th day of August 2023.”

https://dailytimesng.com/obasa-efcc-withdraws-suit/

Previous Threads:
https://www.nairaland.com/5877642/obasa-64-bank-accounts-linked#89878603

https://wap.nairaland.com/6167844/lagos-assembly-speaker-obasa-efcc#94728150

https://www.nairaland.com/6168612/obasa-court-orders-efcc-freeze#94741534

veekid:
He helped Tinubu get into power, yeah?

Meanwhile, Whatever El-Rufai is going through right now wouldn't have been compared to what Peter Obi would have gone through if he were a corrupt person.

Forever Respect to PETER OBI.

Helped Tinubu, how?

Did you know that Kaduna delegates at the APC presidential primary election all voted for Rufail's ally Amaechi?

Did you know that PDP win presidential election in Kaduna state?

Is this how to help someone win an election?

Make una dey know things b4 saying it.

The only fight El-Rufail fought was that power must go to the south base on APC agreement in 2014...

RISQUE:
And the day El-rufai finds himself back to power either as a President or Vice, he will open a corruption charge against Tinubu who by then is an ex President, same treatment will be meted to all those whom Tinubu used to get El-Rufai to this stage of his life and the circle continues. El-Rufai is a cat with 9 lives.

The same Peter Obi who is not corrupt is in romance with the blood sucking and corrupt El-rufai (it takes of same mind to tangle)

RISQUE:
And the day El-rufai finds himself back to power either as a President or Vice, he will open a corruption charge against Tinubu who by then is an ex President, same treatment will be meted to all those whom Tinubu used to get El-Rufai to this stage of his life and the circle continues. El-Rufai is a cat with 9 lives.

You are dreaming, please wake up

Babzrockman:
Helped Tinubu, how?

Did you know that Kaduna delegates at the APC presidential primary election all voted for Rufail's ally Amaechi?

Did you know that PDP win presidential election in Kaduna state?

Is this how to help someone win an election?

Make una dey know things b4 saying it.

The only fight El-Rufail fought was that power must go to the south base on APC agreement in 2014...

Story for the Gods, I here you sir

He's going to be released temporarily.
Long term jail await him

veekid:
He helped Tinubu get into power, yeah?

Meanwhile, Whatever El-Rufai is going through right now wouldn't have been compared to what Peter Obi would have gone through if he were a corrupt person.

Forever Respect to PETER OBI.

The fact that someone is being arraigned does not mean he is guilty. Has he been convicted? Elrufai has been arraigned before and came out unscathed. Why do you think it took them 30 days to arraign him and why did the charge move from 423 billion naira to wiretapping devices and then to mansions in Cairo only to now arraign him for "intent to commit fraud"? You think it takes Tinubu anything to witch-hunt and arraign Peter Obi? Watch him do that to consolidate power if he manages to win reelection. He's currently coming for the political parties. Watch him come for the individuals post-2027. You all create unnecessary enemies for Peter Obi with this penchant to throw his name at every situation, even ones that are totally unnecessary. Sometimes, silence is a strategy.

Samari83:
The same Peter Obi who is not corrupt is in romance with the blood sucking and corrupt El-rufai (it takes of same mind to tangle)

cry me a river. You are now pained that Obi is now understanding Nigeria politics. As long as Tinubu is in romance with all the known criminals in Nigeria Obi should do the same to grab power too.

Yahay Belo even dared FG (EFCC). He is working free because he is Tinubu boy.

Even if entails romancing with bandit just as Tinubu administration is doing. Obi should do so. That is Nigeria style of politics. Anything short of that Obi won't smell Aso Rock seat. If you want to catch monkey behave like money. That is the game and Obi has eventually realised it. That is the dirty politics Tinubu is playing and some gullible Nigerian see him as smart politician.

Babzrockman:
Helped Tinubu, how?

Did you know that Kaduna delegates at the APC presidential primary election all voted for Rufail's ally Amaechi?

Did you know that PDP win presidential election in Kaduna state?

Is this how to help someone win an election?

Make una dey know things b4 saying it.

The only fight El-Rufail fought was that power must go to the south base on APC agreement in 2014...

That's a fat lie if not of El-rufai even Uba Sani won't be Kaduna State Governor he didn't hide his support for Tinubu everybody in Kaduna knows this

morikee:
That's a fat lie if not of El-rufai even Uba Sani won't be Kaduna State Governor he didn't hide his support for Tinubu everybody in Kaduna knows this

Allow the betrayers. Let them keep attempting to rewrite history. It remains an unchangeable fact that Elrufai made Tinubu president. The likes of Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and Nnamdi Azikiwe were once contemporary politicians too. Their actions and inactions continue to be a reference point for present and future generations. Posterity will remain the ultimate judge long after we are all gone. Time is a gentleman.

El rufai overestimated his political strength and underestimated that of Tinubu and that was a grave and political ending mistake, he should never ever have quit the ruling party rather should have stayed within and bid his time and fortune would have smiled on him again, I can't recall anyone else that has ever fought a government in power and succeeded how much more fighting Tinubu the most ruthless, intelligent and experienced politician nigerian has ever known

Satazaa:
El rufai overestimated his political strength and underestimated that of Tinubu and that was a grave and political ending mistake, he should never ever have quit the ruling party rather should have stayed within and bid his time and fortune would have smiled on him again, I can't recall anyone else that has ever fought a government in power and succeeded how much more fighting Tinubu the most ruthless, intelligent and experienced politician nigerian has ever known

Elrufai is not a Yorubaman. Abusing power is not a sign of strength. Tinubu hasn't defeated him yet and his political career is very far from over. Yar'adua and Jonathan did worse to Elrufai, how did it turn out for them? Time is a gentleman.

AMINDA:
Allow the betrayers. Let them keep attempting to rewrite history. It remains an unchangeable fact that Elrufai made Tinubu president. The likes of Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and Nnamdi Azikiwe were once contemporary politicians too. Their actions and inactions continue to be a reference point for present and future generations. Posterity will remain the ultimate judge long after we are all gone. Time is a gentleman.

It baffles me how some people are trying to rewrite history same El-Rufai fought Buhari Cashless policy