Courtroom approves interim forfeiture of N1.37 billion allegedly diverted from Kaduna Authorities   

A Federal Excessive Courtroom sitting in Kaduna State has authorized the interim forfeiture of N1.37 billion allegedly diverted into a non-public account from the Kaduna State Authorities in the course of the tenure of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The presiding decide, Justice H. Buhari, granted the forfeiture order on February 28, 2025, in a case filed by the Impartial Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC), as reported by Channels Tv on Wednesday.

The cash in dispute was allegedly diverted into an account belonging to Indo Kaduna Marts JV Nigeria Restricted.

ICPC’s Case 

On February 14, 2025, the ICPC disclosed that the cash in dispute was a part of the funds launched for a botched gentle rail undertaking in Kaduna State in the course of the earlier administration.

• By way of its ex parte utility earlier than the Federal Excessive Courtroom, the ICPC sought the restoration of the funds.
• The ICPC’s lawyer, E.O. Akponimisingha, submitted that Kaduna State authorities officers allegedly diverted the funds by means of Indo Kaduna MRTS JV Nig Restricted, a three way partnership entity established in 2016 by the state authorities and Indian nationals.
• The lawyer said that investigations revealed the sunshine rail undertaking was by no means executed beneath the El-Rufai administration.

The Fee argued that this improvement allegedly disadvantaged the folks of Kaduna State of the advantages of the rail transportation system undertaking.

What the Choose Stated 

Ruling on the ICPC’s utility, Justice H. Buhari issued the interim forfeiture order.

• The decide additionally directed the ICPC to publish a discover in two nationwide newspapers in order that any get together might present trigger why the funds shouldn’t be completely forfeited to the Federal Authorities.
• The case was then adjourned to April 8, 2025, for any get together to point out trigger why the interim order must be vacated.

Extra Insights 

This improvement highlights the continued authorized scrutiny of El-Rufai’s administration by the ICPC.

• In mid-January 2025, the ICPC indicted three ex-appointees of the previous governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, in a recent N64 million money-laundering swimsuit.
• The ex-appointees are Mr. Lawal Shakiru Olajimi Adebisi, a former Senior Particular Adviser/Counselor to El-Rufai, the previous Accountant Basic of Kaduna State, Mr. Umar Waziri, and Mr. Yusuf Inuwa, the previous Finance Commissioner within the state.
• Within the swimsuit filed on the Federal Excessive Courtroom, Kaduna Judicial Division, the ICPC accused Mr. Lawal of conspiring with the 2 different accused individuals to divert N64,800,562 in three tranches: N10,000,000, N47,840,000, and N7,320,562 to the bank account of Photo voltaic Life Nigeria Restricted, the place Mr. Lawal is believed to be the only real signatory.

In a separate cost, the ICPC additionally arraigned the previous Chief of Employees and Commissioner of Finance in Kaduna State, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, for cash laundering.

Sa’idu was accused of accepting a money cost of N155,000,000 from Ibrahim Muktar, a public officer within the Ministry of Finance.