The Federal High Court in Kaduna has adjourned the trial of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and six other defendants over an alleged ₦8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract to December 8, 2026.
The case, which involves allegations of corruption and money laundering, was adjourned following changes in the legal teams representing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and El-Rufai.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Ibrahim Muktar, the newly appointed prosecution counsel, asked the court for more time to study the case file and review previous proceedings.
Mustapha Abubakar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who recently took over El-Rufai’s defence, also requested time to familiarise himself with the case.
Justice Hauwa’u Buhari granted both requests and fixed December 8 for the substantive hearing.
Meanwhile, the court scheduled October 16, 2026, to rule on a pending bail application filed by the second defendant, Jimi Adebisi Lawal, a former senior special adviser and counsellor to El-Rufai.
The ICPC arraigned El-Rufai, Lawal and five corporate entities on June 25, 2026, on an amended 11-count charge relating to the award and execution of the CCTV surveillance contract during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor.
The case, registered as FHC/KD/93C/2026, names El-Rufai as the first defendant and Lawal as the second.
The five corporate defendants are Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited.
According to the ICPC, the allegations include breaches of public procurement requirements and the involvement of a company that allegedly lacked the experience and qualifications needed to execute the project.
The defendants have denied the allegations, which remain before the court for determination.
The commission said it would continue pursuing the case in line with due process, the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all parties.
