Rufai over alleged N8.7bn Kaduna CCTV contract irregularities

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Nasir el-Rufai , former Kaduna State governor and six others before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering and procurement-related offences. Also named in the charge are Jimi Lawal, a former adviser to the ex-governor, alongside Singularity Network Security Limited, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, Knowledge Investment Nigeria Limited, Intercellular Nigeria Limited and Noble Coast Resources Limited. According to a statement issued by the anti-graft agency, Bashir el-Rufai, identified as a brother of the former governor, was mentioned in one of the counts and is currently at large. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna. In the amended charge sheet, the ICPC alleged that el-Rufai approved the award of a contract valued at N8.68 billion for the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system in Kaduna metropolis to Singularity Network Security Limited in violation of public procurement regulations.