By Kamsi Anayo
Armed security personnel took over the premises and surroundings of the Federal High Court in Kaduna, Kaduna State, on Tuesday, ahead of the arraignment of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
ICPC, which has held El-Rufai in custody for more than a month, announced on Monday the arraignment of the former governor scheduled for Tuesday in Kaduna.
The anti-corruption agency’s operatives brought El-Rufai to court at the Old Nigerian Defence Academy, on Tuesday.
They arrived with the former governor at the court complex at about 9:00 a.m. but did not immediately step out of the vehicle.
At about 9.34 a.m., security agents escorted him from the vehicle to the courtroom.
The court premises were filled with security operatives, including agents of the State Security Service (SSS), who limited access to the area.
Operatives of the Nigerian police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also part of the phalanx of security personnel on the court premises.
Journalists were prevented from entering the courtroom.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, ICPC’s spokesperson, John Odey, stated that El-Rufai and Joel Adoga would appear before the Federal High Court in Kaduna for arraignment on charges in the case marked FHC/KD/73/2026.
The agency added that it also filed a separate case marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26 before the Kaduna State High Court against El-Rufai and another co-defendant, Amadu Sule.
“The charges in the State High Court case range from abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud to conferring undue advantage, among others,” Mr Odey said.
He said both cases were filed on March 18, noting that the date for arraignment at the state high court would be communicated by the court.
ICPC rearrested El Rufai on Feb. 18 as soon as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) released him after two days of detaining him over corruption allegations.
