El-Rufai Pleads Not Guilty to Money Laundering Charges in Kaduna

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to a 10-count charge of money laundering and financial impropriety during his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The high-profile proceedings were held under heavy security, with operatives from the DSS and Nigeria Police Force reportedly barring journalists from entering the courtroom.

The charges, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), involve allegations of public property conversion and the illegal monetization of earnings. Despite the multi-count indictment, El-Rufai’s legal team maintained that their client is only directly implicated in a single count. His lawyer described the case as “nothing problematic,” characterizing the charges as mere disputes over deposits into a domiciliary account.  

The court session followed weeks of legal back-and-forth involving El-Rufai’s repeated arrests. After being granted bail following an initial arrest by the EFCC in February, he was subsequently re-arrested by the ICPC. This cycle of detention has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups and political allies, who have labeled the move a “violation of fundamental rights” and “politically motivated.”  

While a bail application has been formally filed by the defense, it could not be heard during Tuesday’s session. The presiding judge exercised discretion to proceed with the arraignment while deferring the consideration of pending applications. Consequently, El-Rufai will remain in custody or under the supervision of the authorities until the next scheduled court appearance.

In addition to the federal charges, the ICPC confirmed that El-Rufai faces a separate trial before a Kaduna State High Court. That case involves allegations of “abuse of office” and “conferring undue advantage” during his tenure as governor. The dual-track prosecution marks one of the most significant legal challenges faced by a former governor in recent Nigerian history.  

The Federal High Court has adjourned the matter to March 31, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and other outstanding motions. As the date approaches, public attention remains fixed on the transparency of the trial, especially given the restrictions placed on media access during the initial arraignment.