ICPC Files 10-Count Money Laundering Charges Against El-Rufai at Federal High Court in Kaduna
ICPC Files 10-Count Money Laundering Charges Against El-Rufai at Federal High Court in Kaduna
A fresh legal battle has emerged for former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, following the filing of a 10-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, corruption, and unlawful possession of funds before the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Kaduna Judicial Division.
The charge, marked FHC/KD/729/2026, was instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with El-Rufai listed as the first defendant and Joel Adoga as the second defendant.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors alleged that El-Rufai, while serving as governor of Kaduna State, received ₦289,826,998.12 as severance allowance, far above the legally approved sum of about ₦20,013,245, said to represent 300% of his annual basic salary.
The prosecution claimed the payment constituted proceeds of unlawful activity and violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Two separate counts relate to the alleged receipt of the same amount in 2020 and 2023.
The charge further alleged that between 2016 and 2023, various sums in U.S. dollars were deposited into El-Rufai’s Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account, allegedly by different individuals said to be at large.
Amounts listed in the charge include: $320,800 paid in tranches by Joel Adoga
$155,800 allegedly deposited by Peter Akagu Jones
$305,300 allegedly paid by Ajayi Ayodele
Several smaller deposits ranging from $4,000 to $10,000 from different persons
Prosecutors claimed the defendant ought to have known the funds were proceeds of corruption and fraud.
In Count 10, El-Rufai and Joel Adoga were accused of conspiring to disguise the origin of $10,000 allegedly deposited into the former governor’s account in 2019.
The charge states the act contravenes Sections 18 and 21 of the Money Laundering Act, 2022.
The charge was signed by senior legal officers of the ICPC on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation, indicating the case is being handled as a high-profile prosecution.
No date has yet been announced for arraignment as of the time of filing.
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