El-Rufai Remanded in ICPC Custody Over Corruption Charges

Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has been remanded in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) after being arraigned on March 31, 2023, on 10 counts of corruption and money laundering. The presiding judge, Rilwanu Aikawa, set a date to hear arguments from both the defense and prosecution.

El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include allegations of unlawfully receiving N289.8 million and managing a total of N320.8 million in deposits in a Guaranty Trust Bank account. The ICPC claims these funds were received in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2022.

During the court proceedings, security was heightened across Kaduna, with significant police presence. El-Rufai's defense counsel, Ubong Akpan, requested bail to prepare a defense, while the prosecution opposed the application, citing concerns about interfering with ongoing investigations.

The matter was adjourned, and protests supporting El-Rufai occurred outside the court.