Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, appeared at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday for arraignment over alleged corruption charges, amid tight security.
He arrived at the court around 9:00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle and waited inside for more than 30 minutes before entering the courtroom at about 9:34 a.m.
El-Rufai was dressed in a light green babanriga and cap, with ICPC and DSS operatives forming a protective cordon around him.
Journalists who had gathered from 7:00 a.m. were prevented from entering the courtroom by DSS personnel.
Security was significantly heightened around the court located at the old Nigerian Defence Academy, with officers from the DSS, Nigeria Police, Mobile Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed.
Traffic along the Ungwan Sarki-Kawo corridor was reduced to a single lane, causing delays as security personnel controlled vehicular movement.
According to the ICPC, El-Rufai will be arraigned alongside Joel Adoga in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026, facing allegations of conversion and possession of public property and money laundering.
The commission also revealed a separate case at the Kaduna State High Court against El-Rufai and Amadu Sule for abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and granting undue advantage.
Both cases were filed on March 18, 2026. The ICPC said El-Rufai had been properly served and stressed its commitment to following due process.
His arraignment follows pressure from groups such as the African Democratic Congress and Muslim Rights Concern, which had condemned his prolonged detention without formal charges.
El-Rufai was first detained by the EFCC on February 16, 2026, released on bail two days later, and later re-arrested by the ICPC, remaining in custody pending his appearance in court.
