The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Monday, amended the corruption charges filed against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Kaduna State High Court.
The amendment led to the removal of the second defendant, Amadu Suleiman, Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited, from the case.
In a statement issued on Monday, the ICPC said its counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, informed the court that the initial joint charge had been amended due to Suleiman’s continued absence, who was reportedly unavailable on medical grounds.
The court subsequently granted the application, allowing the prosecution to proceed with the case against El-Rufai alone.
Following the amendment, the former governor was re-arraigned on nine counts under several laws, including the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, the Advance Fee Fraud Act, the Kaduna State Penal Code and the Kaduna State Public Procurement Law.
El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
After the plea was taken, the prosecution urged the court to fix a trial date and ensure the defendant’s presence throughout the proceedings.
The defence counsel, however, applied for bail on liberal terms, citing a pending application before the court.
After listening to both parties, the court adjourned ruling on the bail application until Tuesday, April 14, and ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the decision.
The New Charges Filed Against El-Rufai
The charges against Mr El-Rufai were brought under the Advance Fee Fraud Act and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
In the first count, the ICPC alleged that in December 2016, while serving as governor, Mr El-Rufai used false pretences to induce the Kaduna State Government to pay ₦11 billion to Indokaduna MRTS JV Nigeria Limited, described by the commission as an unregistered entity, for a light rail project that was never executed.
The commission said the alleged act contravenes the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The second count accuses him of using his office to confer a corrupt advantage on himself.
In the third count, the ICPC alleged that in January 2023, Mr El-Rufai received ₦289.8 million as severance allowance, far above the legally approved sum of about ₦20 million. It said he knew, or ought to have known, that the excess payment formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The fourth count alleges that between September 2017 and March 2023, he took control of $320,800 paid in tranches into his Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account by one Joel Adoga, funds the commission said were proceeds of corruption.
In the fifth count, the ICPC alleged that in May 2022, Mr El-Rufai received $155,800 into the same account from Peter Akagu Jones, said to be at large, and that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The sixth count accuses him of receiving $305,300 in May 2022 from Ajayi Ayodele under similar circumstances.
In the seventh and eighth counts, the ICPC alleged that he received $5,000 each in April and June 2016 from different individuals, which it said were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The commission also accused the former governor of receiving other sums in foreign currency and concealing their origin, following the amendment of the charge.
El-Rufai was earlier arraigned by the ICPC on 10 counts of fraud, conversion of public property and money laundering alongside other defendants. He pleaded not guilty.
The amended charge follows a series of court appearances in both state and federal courts.
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