The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has reshaped its case against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, introducing a new set of allegations.
On Monday, the agency presented an amended nine-count charge, removing the earlier money laundering accusations and replacing them with fresh claims related to corruption, fraud, procurement breaches, and abuse of office.
Records before the Kaduna State High Court show the revised charge was filed on April 10, 2026, marking a shift from the initial 10-count case previously instituted under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Reacting to the development, defence counsel Ukpong Abang said the legal team was taken by surprise, explaining that the updated charges were handed to them in court without prior notice.
“The charges are entirely new to us. They were given to us this morning while we were already in court,”
He noted that the court proceeded to take the former governor’s plea and also heard his bail application during the session.
Abang added that the defence would first study the amended charges in detail before deciding on its next move.
“We will analyse the charges and make our position known. For now, there is nothing we can do until we have fully reviewed them,”
The court has adjourned its ruling on El-Rufai’s bail request to April 14.
