ICPC Arraigns El-Rufai’s ex-Chief Of Staff

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu, former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, before the Federal High Court in Kaduna.

Saidu, who also served as Commissioner of Finance during El-Rufai’s administration, was charged alongside Ibrahim Muktar, identified as “a public officer in the employment of the Ministry of Finance,” on Tuesday.

According to court document No. FHC/KD/IC/2025, the defendants face two counts of money laundering. This development counters earlier claims that Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu had been cleared of all allegations following a 10-month investigation.

The charge sheet states that in or around March 2022, Saidu, as Commissioner of Finance, “did accept cash payment of the sum of N155,000,000.00 from one Ibrahim Muktar exceeding the amount authorised by law, which sum you received in cash through proxy to wit: Muazu Abdu, your Special Assistant and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(a) and punishable under Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, Section 18(3), stipulates that “any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (2) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than four years but not more than fourteen years or a fine not less than five times the value of the proceeds of the crime or both.”

The charges were filed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, Assistant Chief Legal Officer of the ICPC.