Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, appeared at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday under heavy security for his scheduled arraignment over alleged corruption-related offences.
El-Rufai arrived at the court premises, located within the old Nigerian Defence Academy, around 9:00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle.
He waited for over 30 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom at about 9:34 a.m., dressed in a light green babanriga with a matching cap, flanked by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Journalists who had gathered from 7:00 a.m. were prevented from entering the courtroom by DSS personnel, who maintained strict control of the proceedings. Security was heightened across the area, with officers from the DSS, Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deployed early, restricting vehicular movement along Kawo from Ungwan Sarki and creating traffic bottlenecks.
According to ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, El-Rufai is to be arraigned alongside Joel Adoga in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.
The charges reportedly include conversion and possession of public property and money laundering.
In addition, ICPC confirmed that a separate case, KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, has been filed against El-Rufai and Amadu Sule at a Kaduna State High Court, citing allegations of abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.
The agency noted that both sets of charges were filed on March 18, 2026, with the state court arraignment date to be announced.
The commission stressed that El-Rufai had been formally served and reaffirmed its adherence to due process and the rule of law.
Observers said the arraignment came amid growing public pressure from groups such as the African Democratic Congress, which had demanded either the former governor’s release or formal arraignment, describing his continued detention without charges as unconstitutional.
Muslim Rights Concern and family members had also raised concerns about alleged rights violations during his detention.
El-Rufai was initially arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026, released on bail two days later, and subsequently re-arrested by ICPC, remaining in custody until Tuesday’s court appearance