By Julius Peter,Abuja
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and six other defendants over alleged corruption and money laundering linked to an ₦8.68 billion Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance contract to December 8, 2026.
The adjournment followed changes in the legal teams representing the prosecution and the first defendant, with both newly appointed lawyers requesting additional time to familiarise themselves with the case and prepare for the proceedings.
The case, instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), came up before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division.
At the proceedings, the newly appointed prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Muktar, announced his appearance and informed the court of changes in the prosecution team.
Muktar subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file, review previous proceedings and acquaint himself with the issues involved in the matter to ensure effective prosecution.
Similarly, Mustapha Abubakar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who appeared as the new counsel to El-Rufai, sought an adjournment to enable him to familiarise himself with the case, having recently taken over the defence from the former legal representative.
After considering the submissions of both counsel, Justice Buhari granted their requests and adjourned the substantive trial to December 8, 2026, for hearing.
Meanwhile, the court has fixed October 16, 2026, to rule on the pending bail application filed by the second defendant, Jimi Adebisi Lawal, a former Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor to El-Rufai during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
The ruling will determine the application before the court, while the substantive trial involving all the defendants is scheduled to resume in December.
The development was disclosed in a press statement issued on Thursday, October 15, 2026, by the ICPC and signed by its Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey.
El-Rufai, Lawal and five corporate entities were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on June 25, 2026, over allegations bordering on corruption, money laundering and related offences associated with the award of an ₦8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract for Kaduna metropolis.
According to the ICPC, the defendants were arraigned on an amended 11-count charge in a case marked FHC/KD/93C/2026.
The former governor is listed as the first defendant, while Lawal is the second defendant. The five corporate entities named in the charge 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 the award and execution of the CCTV surveillance contract during El-Rufai’s administration in Kaduna State.
The anti-corruption commission alleged, among other things, that the contract was awarded in violation of applicable public procurement requirements and involved a company that allegedly lacked the necessary experience and qualifications to undertake the project.
The commission is pursuing the case as part of its mandate to investigate and prosecute alleged corruption and other related offences.
However, the allegations remain before the court for judicial determination, and the defendants have denied them.
The latest adjournment provides the newly appointed prosecution and defence counsel with additional time to review the case materials and prepare for the next stage of the proceedings.
The case has attracted attention because of the high value of the contract involved, the former governor’s position as the first defendant and the allegations concerning public procurement and the management of government contracts.
The next substantive hearing is expected to take place on December 8, 2026, when the court is scheduled to continue proceedings in the matter.
Before then, the court is expected to deliver its ruling on Lawal’s bail application on October 16, 2026.
The ICPC reiterated its commitment to pursuing the case in accordance with due process, the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all parties involved.
The commission also maintained that the matter would proceed through the established judicial process, leaving the court to determine the merits of the allegations against the defendants.
As the proceedings continue, the outcome of the case will depend on the evidence presented before the court and the judicial determination of the charges.
