The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has brought a third set of criminal charges against Nasir El-Rufai and seven others over alleged fraud and money laundering linked to a N10.8 billion CCTV security project.
Others reportedly involved are a former Kaduna State government official, Jimi Lawal, senior executives of IHS Towers, and five other companies.
Court documents filed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on 17 April indicated that the ICPC has filed 11 counts under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The anti-graft agency alleged that El-Rufai approved the award of an N8.68 billion CCTV contract in December 2015 to a company said to lack the requisite competence.
It added that several large sums were received and transferred between 2017 and 2022 by individuals and companies associated with the project, including Singularity Network Security Limited.
One of El-Rufai’s sons, Bashir El-Rufai, was said to be involved but he has yet to be named as a defendant.
The former Kaduna Commissioner for Information and chairman of Liberty Television, Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan, made this disclosure in a Facebook post, in which he said the accused would face trial shortly.
ObserversTimes recalls that this is the third set of charges filed in court by the ICPC against El-Rufai since March.
However, the embattled former governor is currently facing separate corruption-related cases involving a light rail contract and severance payments, all of which he has denied.
Meanwhile, the State Security Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are also investigating or prosecuting him over separate allegations.
