Court orders El-Rufai’s ex-aide, co-defendant to open defence in N155m fraud trial
By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has ordered a former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Mr. Bashir Mohammed Saidu, and his co-defendant, Mr. Ibrahim Murktar, to open their defence in an alleged N155 million money laundering case.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa, in a ruling delivered on Tuesday, dismissed the no-case submission filed by the defendants, holding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against them.
The judge ruled that the totality of evidence presented by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) showed that the defendants had questions to answer.
Saidu, a former Commissioner of Finance in Kaduna State, and Murktar are standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The ICPC alleged that Murktar, then a cashier in the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance, withdrew N155 million in multiple cash tranches from the state’s Exchange Gain Account and handed the funds through a proxy for the benefit of Saidu, in violation of financial regulations.
According to the Commission, the transactions were conducted outside the formal banking system and were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
The prosecution, which opened its case following the defendants’ arraignment on January 21, 2025, called two witnesses and tendered several exhibits before closing its case.
However, the defendants urged the court to dismiss the charges, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a case against them.
Justice Aikawa, in his ruling, disagreed with the defence, affirming that sufficient evidence had been presented to warrant an explanation from the defendants.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to June 22, 2026, for the defendants to open their defence.
The ICPC reiterated its commitment to pursuing corruption cases to a logical conclusion and ensuring accountability in public service.