A former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, is to account for overpayment of N579 million as severance allowance between 2020 and 2023.

He was said to be entitled to N40 million after his first and second terms in office.

Also, he is expected to explain to the court how he came about the over $781,900 strange deposits in his domiciliary account by a staff member and some individuals.

The details of the allegations were contained in the charge sheet, dated March 18, 2026, which the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed against the ex-governor before the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division.

The former governor was arraigned yesterday.

The ICPC alleged that el-Rufai illegally collected N289.8 million as severance allowance on two occasions in September 2020 and January 2023.

The total severance package was about N579 million instead of the entitled sum of about N40 million, amounting to N20 million each of his two terms.

The overpayment was more than 300 per cent of his basic salary as a severance allowance.

The commission alleged that the former governor reasonably ought to have known that the funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts, including corruption, thereby violating provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

All the allegations were denied by el-Rufai, who also applied for bail.

The court will rule on the application for bail on Tuesday.

The charge reads in part: “That you Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (m) sometime in September, 2020 or thereabout at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor o f Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of N289,826,998.12 as severance allowance over and above your legitimately entitled sum of N20,013,245.00 which represents 300 per cent of your annual basic salary which you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (m) sometime in January 2023 or thereabout at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of N289,826,998.12. as severance allowance over and above your legitimately entitled sum of N20,013,245.00 which represents 300 per cent of your annual basic salary.”

ICPC also alleged curious payments into el-Rufai’s domiciliary account by his staff and from different individuals.

It said between September 2017 and March 2023, he took control of $781,900 allegedly paid in tranches into his account.

It said: “That you Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (m) sometime between September, 2017 and March, 2023 or thereabout at Kaduna and Abuja respectively, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took control of the total sum of $320,800 deposited into your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account number: 0023824985 in different tranches by one Joel Adoga, when you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2) (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

The charges in counts 4, 5, 6,7, 8 and 9 also accused El-Rufai of receiving $155,800 from one Peter Akagu Jones, $305,300 from one Ajayi Ayodele, and smaller sums, including $5,000, $4,000 and $10,000 from other individuals, all of whom are said to be at large.

It said: “That you Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (m) sometime in May, 2022 or thereabout at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a public officer as the elected Executive Governor of Kaduna State, directly took possession of the sum of $305,300 deposited into your Guaranty Trust Bank (domiciliary) account number: 0023824985 by one Ajayi Ayodele (now at large), when you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary t o Section 18(2) (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (M), Joel Adoga (m) sometime in July, 2019 or thereabout at Wuse, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire to disguise the origin of $10,000.00 which sum was deposited into the Guaranty Trust Bank domicilary account number: 0023824985 belonging to Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, when you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 21 and 18(2)(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) o f the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Defence counsel, Ukpong Akpan, urged the court to grant bail, arguing that his client needed freedom to adequately prepare for trial.

The prosecution, represented by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, who is the Head of the High Profile Prosecution Department, opposed the request.

He argued that granting bail at this stage could affect ongoing investigations.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa adjourned till Tuesday for the hearing of El-Rufai’s bail application.

Yesterday, security was tightened around the Federal High Court premises as operatives of the Department of State Services, Police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed ahead of the arraignment.

Reporters were barred from entering the court.

By about 7:00 a.m., the heavily armed personnel had taken positions at strategic points leading to the court complex located within the old Nigerian Defence Academy area.

Vehicular movement was restricted, with motorists forced into a single lane from the Ungwan Sarki axis through Kawo, resulting in early morning traffic congestion.

A pocket of supporters, as well as El-Rufai’s son Bello, were in court to show solidarity.

Bello, who briefly addressed reporters, said his presence was purely to support his father.

“I’m just here to support him as a son. And of course, this is my constituency. I have the privilege of representing Kaduna,” he said.

A group, the Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI), praised the ICPC on its handling of the case.

In a statement by its Director of Strategic Communication, Tunji Bamidele, the group noted the commission’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their status, are held accountable for their actions is commendable.

Bamidele said: “It is crucial that the principles of fairness and justice guide the proceedings, ensuring that the rights of all parties involved are upheld.

“The integrity of our judicial system depends on the adherence to these principles, and the DWI stands firmly in support of a transparent and accountable legal process.

“As citizens, we must recognise the significance of this moment in our nation’s journey toward greater accountability and transparency in governance.

“The actions taken by the ICPC serve as a powerful reminder that corruption will not be tolerated, and that those in positions of power are not above the law.” (The Nation)

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