By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Security was heightened on Tuesday around the Federal High Court in Kaduna as operatives of various agencies took positions ahead of the arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged corruption-related offences.

As early as 7:00 a.m., heavily armed personnel drawn from the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Mobile Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed to strategic points leading to the court premises located at the old Nigerian Defence Academy.

Vehicular movement was restricted, with motorists forced into a single lane from the Ungwan Sarki axis through Kawo, causing early morning traffic disruptions.

The development followed an earlier announcement by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission that it would arraign El-Rufai on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna.

The anti-graft agency, in a Monday statement by its Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, disclosed that El-Rufai would be arraigned alongside one Joel Adoga in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.

According to the commission, the charges border on alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is set to arraign the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, and one Joel Adoga at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Kaduna Judicial Division on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The charges range from conversion of and possession of public property to money laundering,” the statement read.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will on Tuesday arraign former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna.

The ICPC Spokesperson, John Odey, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, El-Rufa’i will be arraigned alongside Joel Adoga in a case marked FHC/KD/73/2026.

He said that the charges filed against them included alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.

Odey said that the anti-graft agency had also filed a separate case before the Kaduna State High Court against El-Rufa’i and Amadu Sule (LEDA).

“The case, with charge number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, borders on allegations of abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.

“Both cases were filed on March 18, 2026. While the Federal High Court arraignment is scheduled for March 24, the date for the State High Court proceedings will be communicated in due course.

“The ICPC confirmed that El-Rufa’i has been duly served with the charges.”

He reiterated the commission’s commitment to due process and adherence to the rule of law in the prosecution of corruption-related offences.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A federal high court in Abuja has sentenced Anamekwe Nwabuoku, former acting accountant-general of the federation, to 72 years imprisonment for money laundering.

Delivering judgment on Monday, James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proved its case against Nwabuoku.

Nwabuoku was arraigned on a nine-count amended charge bordering on money laundering and fraud to the tune of N868.4 million.

He was granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024, the anti-graft agency accused Nwabuoku of conspiring with several companies, including Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited, Turge Global Investment Limited, Laptev Bridge Limited, and Arafura Transnational Afro Limited, to convert funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The alleged offence, according to the EFCC, contravenes section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012), and is punishable under section 15(3) of the Act.

The commission said Nwabuoku committed the offences while serving as the director of finance and accounts in the ministry of defence between 2019 and 2021.

The former acting accountant general had filed a no-case submission which was dismissed by the court in November 2025.

Nwabuoku was appointed acting accountant-general of the federation on May 20, 2022, by the then President Muhammadu Buhari, following the suspension of Ahmed Idris over alleged N80 billion fraud.

But Nwabuoku was removed from the position in July 2022, barely weeks after assuming office, following reports that he was under EFCC investigation.