By Ayomide Otitoju
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arraigned former Nasir El-Rufai before a Kaduna State High Court over multiple corruption-related allegations.
The arraignment comes just three days after El-Rufai buried his late mother, who passed away in Egypt. He faces charges of abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023.
El-Rufai was arrested by the ICPC on February 18, 2026, and after 34 days in custody, was arraigned on March 24, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna alongside co-defendant Joel Adoga.
During proceedings, El-Rufai’s legal team, led by Barrister Ubong Akpan, reminded the court of a pending petition against Justice Rilwan Aikawa before the National Judicial Council, seeking the judge’s recusal. Justice Aikawa allowed the arraignment to proceed and scheduled a hearing on the recusal and bail applications for March 31, 2026.
The case has drawn public attention following the ICPC’s controversial release of El-Rufai on compassionate grounds to attend his mother’s funeral, despite an existing court remand order.
