₦8.68bn CCTV Contract: El-Rufai, ex-aide arraigned in Kaduna

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, his former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor, Jimi Adebisi Lawal, and five companies before the Federal High Court in Kaduna over alleged corruption, money laundering and related offences.

The defendants were arraigned on an 11-count amended charge marked FHC/KD/93C/2026 before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari. Also listed as defendants are Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.

According to the amended charge, the ICPC alleged that El-Rufai, while serving as Governor of Kaduna State, unlawfully approved the award of a contract valued at ₦8.68 billion for the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system in Kaduna metropolis.

The Commission alleged that the contract was awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited despite the company lacking the requisite qualifications and experience, in violation of public procurement laws.

ICPC further claimed that proceeds from the contract were subsequently transferred through several companies and individuals, with transactions allegedly involving billions of naira between 2017 and 2022.

One of the counts also mentions Bashir El-Rufai, described as an elder brother of the former governor, who is currently at large.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offences include the possession, receipt and movement of funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In Count One of the amended charge, the Commission alleged that El-Rufai aided an act of corruption by approving the CCTV contract in December 2015, knowing that the award violated procurement laws and involved a company without the necessary experience.