Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai arrived at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday morning under tight security for his arraignment over alleged corruption-related offences.
He was brought to the court premises around 9:00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle and remained inside for over 30 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom at approximately 9:34 a.m.
Dressed in a light green babanriga and matching cap, El-Rufai was heavily guarded as operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) formed a protective cordon around him.
Security presence was significantly heightened around the court complex, located within the old Nigerian Defence Academy. Armed personnel were deployed from the early hours, with operatives from the DSS, Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps stationed across the area.
Journalists who arrived as early as 7:00 a.m. to cover the proceedings were denied access to the courtroom by DSS operatives.
Vehicular movement around the area was also restricted, forcing traffic into a single lane from the Ungwan Sarki axis through Kawo, resulting in significant congestion.
The arraignment follows an earlier announcement by the ICPC confirming that El-Rufai would face trial alongside Joel Adoga in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.
“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.
The commission also revealed that a separate case has been filed at a Kaduna State High Court involving El-Rufai and Amadu Sule.
“Similarly, another charge against Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i and one Amadu Sule has been filed before a Kaduna State High Court in the Kaduna Judicial Division. The charges range from abuse of office and fraud to intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage, among others,” the agency added.
According to the ICPC, both cases were filed on March 18, 2026, and El-Rufai has been duly served, with assurances that proceedings will follow due process and the rule of law.
The arraignment comes amid mounting pressure from political stakeholders, including the African Democratic Congress, which had called for either his release or formal charges, describing his earlier detention as unconstitutional.
The case has also drawn criticism from advocacy groups such as the Muslim Rights Concern, as well as concerns from family members over alleged rights violations.
El-Rufai was initially detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026, granted bail two days later, and subsequently re-arrested by the ICPC. He has remained in custody pending his arraignment.
The court appearance of Nasir El-Rufai under heavy security highlights the high-profile nature of the case and its broader political implications. With legal proceedings now underway, attention will be on how the courts handle the charges, as debates continue around due process, accountability, and the intersection of law and politics in Nigeria.
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