The Federal High Court in Kaduna has adjourned the trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and six others over an alleged ₦8.68 billion CCTV contract fraud to December 8, 2026.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), disclosed this on Thursday, saying the adjournment followed changes in the prosecution and defence legal teams.
The case, instituted by the ICPC, came up before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari. Newly appointed prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Muktar, and El-Rufai’s new lawyer, Mustapha Abubakar, SAN, separately sought an adjournment to familiarise themselves with the case.
The judge granted their requests and fixed December 8 for the substantive trial. However, the court adjourned the bail application of the second defendant, Jimi Adebisi Lawal, a former senior special adviser and counsellor to El-Rufai, to October 16 for ruling.
The ICPC had on June 25, 2026, arraigned El-Rufai, Lawal and five corporate entities on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and related offences.
The other defendants are Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.
The allegations centre on an ₦8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract for Kaduna metropolis awarded during El-Rufai’s administration. The ICPC alleged that the contract violated public procurement requirements and involved a company that lacked the requisite experience and qualifications.
The defendants have denied the allegations, which remain subject to judicial determination.
