The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained former Governor Nasir el-Rufai.

The ex-governor, who was initially arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) after his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has also landed in ICPC custody.

He has a pending trial before the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division over failed N1.3b Joint Venture Kaduna light rail project.

The money was collected by a JV partner during el-Rufai’s administration but the project was not executed.

A midnight statement by the
Head Media and Public Communications /Spokesperson ICPC, John Okor Odey said: “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to state that Malam Nasiru El-Rufai the former Governor of Kaduna state is in our custody as at close of work today Wednesday the 18th day of February, 2026. Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with investigations.”

The genesis of El-rufai’s latest trouble with ICPC

Following an application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division has temporary ordered the forfeiture of N1,373,180,510.07, which was part of the cash for failed Kaduna light rail project.

The money was recovered by ICP from the account of Indo Kaduna Marts JV Nig. Ltd.
The project was paid for by the government of former Governor Nasir el-Rufai but it was not executed.

ICPC said it traced the N1.373b to an account called Indo Kaduna Marts JV Nig. Ltd.

The anti-graft commission said the money was “allegedly diverted into a private account.

The commission later approached Justice H. Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division for the seizure of the money.
Sequel to the ex-parte application dated and filed the 14th February, 2025, ICPC sought for three prayers.

The application was brought pursuant to Section 17(1) (2) (3) and (4) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, Section 48(1)(2)(3)(a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000, Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 and Section 6(6) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

The three reliefs were as follows:

” An order of the court temporarily forfeiting the sum of N1,373,180,510.07 being an amount allegedly diverted into a private account to wit: Indo Kaduna Marts JV Nigeria Limited , and was recovered into the commission’s recovery account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria in the course of an ongoing investigation activity against officials of Kaduna State Government between 2015 and 2023.
“An order of the court directing the applicant to publish a notice in any two (2) national newspapers calling for persons whether human, juristic or artificial having interest in the movable property to show cause in court why the aforesaid movable property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“And for such further or other orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
The application was supported by an affidavit of five (5) paragraphs deposed to by one Idris Abubakar with annextures marked 1-7A, and a written address in compliance with the rules of the court.
The court said: “Upon E. O. Akponimisingha moving and adopting their application, the court considered same and consequently the court hereby orders as follows:
” The motion ex-parte dated and filed 14th day of February, 2025 is granted as prayed and,
“The matter is hereby adjourned to 8th day of April, 2025 for hearing.”
The ICPC wanted the forfeited cash, in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to be returned to Kaduna State Government for the use of the people of the state.
In an affidavit in support, through a Litigation Officer, Idris Abubakar, ICPC said it “received a petition against officials of Kaduna State Government under the administration of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. A copy of the petition is attached and marked as Exhibit ICPC 1.
“The commission, during preliminary investigation, retrieved relevant documents from Sterling Bank Limited relating to financial transactions involving Kaduna State Government.
“The commission’s investigators analysed the documents retrieved from Sterling Bank Limited and the analysis revealed the following:
“The Kaduna State Government had a purported joint venture agreement with the Respondent signed on 18th of October, 2016.
“The joint venture agreement was for the construction of light rail service for the state government.
“Thereafter, Respondent opened a bank account with Sterling Bank Limited on the 15th day of December, 2016.
“Prior to the opening of the bank account for Indo Kaduna Mrts JV Nigeria Limited, the company was not incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
“That following the opening of the account with the Sterling Bank Limited, former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, approved the lodgment of a total sum of N11,099,579,455.14 into Indo Kaduna Mrts JV Nigeria Limited account from various accounts of Kaduna State Government in different tranches into the Respondent’s account.
“Kaduna State Government began funding the account of Indo Kaduna Marts JV. Nigeria Limited with an initial deposit of N890,300,000 (Eight Hundred and Ninety Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) from the Kaduna State Single Treasury Account on the 23” day of December, 2016.
“On the 10th day of January, 2017, the sum of N2,300,000,000.00 was received by Indo Kaduna Mris JV Nigeria Limited from the office of the Accountant General Kaduna State.
“Subsequent deposits of N3,000,000,000.00 and N4,909,279,455.14 were made into the said account from Kaduna State through the office of the Accountant General of the State on the 17th day of January, 2017
” That the N11,099,579,455.14 lodged into the Respondent’s account was dissipated before the formal registration of Indo Kaduna Marts JV Nigeria Limited with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
“The total sum received into Indo Kaduna Mrts JV Nigeria Limited from Kaduna State Government accounts was N11,099,579,455.14.
“That the Respondent (Indo Kaduna Mrts JV Nigeria Limited) was formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on the 10th day of May, 2017. A copy of the incorporation documents is attached and marked as Exhibit [CPC 4.
“The N11,099,579,455.14 was meant for the provision of light rail services for the use of the people of Kaduna and Nigerians in general.
“There was no such project executed by the Kaduna State Government as revealed in the course of investigation.”

Source; The Nation News