The Federal High Court in Kaduna has adjourned the trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and six others over alleged corruption and money laundering involving an ₦8.68 billion Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance contract to December 8, 2026.
The adjournment followed changes in the legal teams representing the prosecution and El-Rufai, the first defendant in the case.
The matter, instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), came up before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division.
The newly appointed prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Muktar, announced his appearance and informed the court of changes to the prosecution team.
Muktar subsequently requested an adjournment to enable him to study the case file, review previous proceedings and familiarise himself with the issues before the court to ensure effective prosecution.
Similarly, Mustapha Abubakar, SAN, who appeared as the new counsel to El-Rufai, sought time to familiarise himself with the case after taking over the defence from the former legal team.
After considering the submissions, Justice Buhari granted the requests and adjourned the substantive trial to December 8, 2026, for hearing.
Meanwhile, the court also considered a pending bail application filed by the second defendant, Jimi Adebisi Lawal, a former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor to El-Rufai.
The judge adjourned the application to October 16, 2026, for ruling.
The ICPC had, on June 25, 2026, arraigned El-Rufai, Lawal and five corporate entities before the same court on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and related offences.
The charge, marked FHC/KD/93C/2026, lists El-Rufai as the first defendant and Lawal as the second defendant.
The five corporate entities named in the case are Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.
The allegations centre on the award of a CCTV surveillance contract for Kaduna metropolis, valued at approximately ₦8.68 billion, during El-Rufai’s administration.
The commission alleged, among other things, that the contract was awarded in violation of applicable public procurement requirements and involved a company that lacked the requisite experience and qualifications.
The defendants have denied the allegations, which remain subject to judicial determination.
The case is expected to resume on December 8, 2026, while the court is scheduled to rule on Lawal’s bail application on October 16, 2026.