Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Tuesday morning brought before the Federal High Court in Kaduna under heavy security for his arraignment over alleged corruption-related offences.

El-Rufai arrived at the court premises at about 9:00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle and remained inside for over 30 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom at approximately 9:34 a.m.

Wearing a light green babanriga with a matching cap, the former governor was accompanied by heavily armed operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Department of State Services, who formed a protective cordon as he was led into the courtroom.

Journalists who arrived at the venue as early as 7:00 a.m. to cover the proceedings were barred from accessing the courtroom by DSS operatives.

Security had been significantly heightened around the court premises, located within the old Nigerian Defence Academy area, with armed personnel deployed from the early hours of the day.

The security team comprised operatives of the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force, the Mobile Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Vehicular movement in the area was restricted, forcing motorists into a single lane from the Ungwan Sarki axis through Kawo, resulting in traffic congestion.

The development followed an earlier announcement by the ICPC that El-Rufai would be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

In a statement issued by its Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, the commission disclosed that El-Rufai would be arraigned alongside one Joel Adoga in suit number FHC/KD/73/2026.

According to the agency, the charges include alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is set to arraign the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, and one Joel Adoga at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Kaduna Judicial Division on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The charges range from conversion of and possession of public property to money laundering,” the statement read.

The commission also disclosed that a separate charge, marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, had been filed against El-Rufai and one Amadu Sule before a Kaduna State High Court.

It said the charges in the state case include abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.

“Similarly, another charge against Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i and one Amadu Sule has been filed before a Kaduna State High Court in the Kaduna Judicial Division. The charges range from abuse of office and fraud to intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage, among others,” the agency added.

The ICPC stated that both charges were filed on March 18, 2026, adding that the date for arraignment in the state court would be communicated later. It also maintained that El-Rufai had been duly served, reaffirming its commitment to due process and the rule of law.

The arraignment follows mounting pressure from stakeholders, including the African Democratic Congress, which had called for either his release or formal arraignment, describing his continued detention without charges as unconstitutional.