El-Rufai, ex-aide docked over N8.68bn CCTV contract scam

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Lawal, have been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over an alleged N8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract fraud.

The duo appeared before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna alongside five companies named in an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and related offences.

According to the ICPC, El-Rufai allegedly approved the award of a CCTV surveillance contract valued at N8.68 billion to Singularity Network Security Limited, a firm the commission claimed lacked the required qualifications and experience for the project.

The anti-graft agency further alleged that funds connected to the contract were subsequently transferred through a network of companies and individuals, with over N2 billion allegedly traced to transactions carried out between 2017 and 2022.

Other defendants in the case include Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited. The commission also listed Bashir El-Rufai, said to be the former governor’s elder brother, as being at large.

One of the charges accused El-Rufai of violating procurement laws by approving the contract while serving as governor of Kaduna State.

Both El-Rufai and Lawal pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in court.

Following submissions by counsel to both parties, Justice Buhari adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications filed by the defendants.

The former governor is also facing a separate case before another court over allegations of abuse of office and unlawful phone interception.