By Ayox Ojo

The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has ordered Mr. Bashir Mohammed Saidu, a former commissioner of Finance and Chief of Staff (CoS) to former governor Nasir El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Mr. Ibrahim Murktar, to open their defence in the N155 million money laundering trial instituted against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Justice Rilwan Aikawa gave the order while delivering ruling on the no-case submissions made by the defendants.

The court dismissed the application as it held that that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against them.

The Court ruled that from the totality of the evidence presented by the ICPC, the defendants have questions to answer and must therefore enter their respective defences.

Mr. Saidu and Mr. Murktar are being prosecuted on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering offences under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The ICPC had alleged that Mr. Murktar, a cashier in the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance at the time, withdrew the sum of N155,000,000.00 in multiple cash tranches from the Kaduna State Exchange Gain Account.

The funds were reportedly handed over in cash through a proxy for the benefit of Mr. Saidu, in violation of statutory financial regulations.

The Commission further contended that the transactions, conducted outside the formal banking system, were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

During the trial, which commenced after the defendants’ arraignment on January 21, 2025, the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered several exhibits before closing its case.

In response, the defendants filed no-case submissions, arguing that the evidence adduced by the prosecution was insufficient to warrant them to enter a defence.

The Court, however, disagreed, affirming that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence requiring explanation from the defendants.

The case has been adjourned to June 22, 2026, for the defendants to open their defence.

The ICPC reaffirms its resolve to pursue corruption cases to their logical conclusion and to uphold transparency and accountability in public service.

Source: PM News