El-Rufai Arraigned in Court Amid Heavy Security

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was brought before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday for arraignment on corruption-related charges, appearing in court for the first time since his detention over a month ago.

The former governor arrived at the court premises around 9:00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle and remained inside for more than 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 surrounded by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), who formed a tight security cordon as he entered.

Journalists who had gathered at the venue as early as 7:00 a.m. to cover the proceedings were denied entry into the courtroom by DSS operatives. Security around the court complex, located within the premises of the old Nigerian Defence Academy, had been significantly reinforced hours before the proceedings, with heavily armed personnel drawn from the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force, the Mobile Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stationed at strategic points in and around the court.

The heightened security deployment also led to restrictions on vehicular movement along major access routes to the court, forcing motorists into a single lane from the Ungwan Sarki axis through Kawo and resulting in traffic congestion in the area.

The arraignment followed an earlier announcement by the ICPC that the former governor would face charges before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on March 24, 2026. In a statement issued by the commission’s Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, the anti-graft agency disclosed that El-Rufai would be arraigned alongside Joel Adoga in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026. According to the commission, the charges include alleged conversion and possession of public property and money laundering.

The ICPC further revealed that another case had been filed against El-Rufai and Amadu Sule before a Kaduna State High Court. That case, marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, contains charges bordering on abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage. The commission stated that both cases were filed on March 18, 2026, adding that the date for arraignment in the state court would be announced later. It maintained that the former governor had been duly served with the charges, stressing that the commission remains committed to due process and the rule of law.

El-Rufai’s arraignment followed growing pressure from several stakeholders who had expressed concern over his prolonged detention. Among them was the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which had earlier demanded either his release or immediate arraignment, describing his continued detention without formal charges as unconstitutional. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also condemned the situation, while members of the former governor’s family raised concerns over what they described as violations of his rights.

El-Rufai was first arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026. He was granted bail two days later but was subsequently re-arrested by the ICPC, where he remained in custody pending Tuesday’s court appearance.