BY SUNDAY SAMUEL— Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has pleaded not guilty to a nine-count charge filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged advance fee fraud and money laundering.
El-Rufai made his plea on Monday during his arraignment before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, where he was docked alongside co-defendant Amadu Sule in the amended charges.
The amendment became necessary due to the continued absence of the second defendant, Amadu Sule, who was reported to be unavailable in court on account of a medical condition.
Following the development, the court granted the application for amendment, allowing the prosecution to proceed with the arraignment of Mallam El-Rufai independent of the second defendant.
Mallam El-Rufai was subsequently arraigned on nine amended charges which allege various infractions under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017, and Kaduna State Public Procurement Law, 2017.
Upon the reading of the charges, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State pleaded not guilty to all nine charges.
Counsel to the prosecution thereafter urged the court to fix a date for trial and to make appropriate orders to ensure the defendant’s attendance throughout the proceedings.
The defence counsel, in response, informed the court of a pending application and prayed for bail on liberal terms.
After listening to both parties, the court adjourned for ruling on the bail application to Tuesday, 14th of April, 2026, and further ruled that Mallam El-Rufai should remain in the custody of the ICPC.
