El-Rufai has arrived Federal High Court Kaduna under tight security for ICPC arraignment over alleged corruption.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Former Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna State, arrived at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Kaduna on Tuesday morning under heavy security ahead of his arraignment over alleged corruption-related offences.
El-Rufai was brought to the court premises around 9:00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle and remained inside for more than 30 minutes before security operatives escorted him into the courtroom at about 9:34 a.m.
Dressed in a light green babanriga with a matching cap, the former governor was surrounded by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), who formed a protective cordon as he was led into the courtroom.
Journalists who arrived at the venue as early as 7:00 a.m. to cover the proceedings were barred from entering the courtroom by DSS operatives.
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Security was significantly heightened around the court complex located at the old Nigerian Defence Academy premises, with heavily armed personnel deployed from the early hours of the day.
The security detail included officers from the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force, the Mobile Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Vehicular movement around the area was also restricted, forcing motorists into a single lane from the Ungwan Sarki axis through Kawo, which led to traffic congestion in the area.
Earlier, the ICPC had announced that El-Rufai would be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
In a statement issued by the commission’s Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, the agency disclosed that El-Rufai would be arraigned alongside Joel Adoga in Suit No. FHC/KD/73/2026.
According to the commission, the charges include alleged conversion and possession of public property as well as money laundering.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is set to arraign the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, and one Joel Adoga at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Kaduna Judicial Division on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The charges range from conversion of and possession of public property to money laundering,” the statement said.
The commission also disclosed that a separate charge marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26 had been filed against El-Rufai and Amadu Sule before a Kaduna State High Court.
According to the agency, the charges in the state case include abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.
The ICPC noted that both charges were filed on March 18, 2026, adding that the date for arraignment in the state court would be announced later.
The arraignment follows mounting pressure from stakeholders, including the African Democratic Congress and the Muslim Rights Concern, which had earlier criticised his prolonged detention and called for either his release or formal arraignment.
El-Rufai was initially detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16, 2026, granted bail on February 18, and later re-arrested by the ICPC, remaining in custody pending his court appearance.
