Court orders El-Rufai’s former aide, co-defendant to enter defence in N155m money laundering Trial

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KADUNA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has ordered former Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance and Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Bashir Mohammed Saidu, and his co-defendant, Ibrahim Murktar, to open their defence in an ongoing N155 million money laundering trial instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The ruling followed the dismissal of the defendants’ no-case submissions by Honourable Justice Rilwan Aikawa, who held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring them to respond.

The Court stated that, based on the totality of evidence presented by the ICPC, the defendants had questions to answer and must therefore enter their defence.

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

According to the prosecution, Murktar, a cashier in the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance at the time, allegedly withdrew N155 million in multiple cash tranches from the Kaduna State Exchange Gain Account.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, alleged that the funds were handed over in cash through a proxy for the benefit of Saidu, in breach of financial regulations.

The Commission further argued 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 argued that the evidence presented was insufficient to warrant their being called upon to enter a defence.

However, the court disagreed, holding that the prosecution had adduced sufficient evidence requiring explanation from the defendants.

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

Reacting to the ruling, the ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing corruption cases to their logical conclusion and strengthening accountability and transparency in public service.