The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday amended the charges filed against former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Kaduna State High Court.
The amendment removed the name of the second defendant Amadu Suleiman managing director of TMDK Terminal Limited, from the case.
ICPC lawyer Osuobeni Akponimisingha told the court that the change followed the continued absence of Mr Suleiman, who was said to be unavailable on medical grounds.
The court granted the application and allowed the case to proceed against El-Rufai alone.
El-Rufai was re-arraigned on nine amended counts under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, the Advance Fee Fraud Act, the Kaduna State Penal Code and the Kaduna State Public Procurement Law.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The prosecution asked the court to fix a date for trial and ensure his attendance. The defence applied for bail, citing a pending application.
The court adjourned ruling on the bail request to April 14 and ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody.
In the amended charges, the ICPC alleged that in December 2016, El-Rufai used false pretences to induce the Kaduna State Government to pay N11 billion to Indokaduna MRTS JV Nigeria Limited for a light rail project that was not executed.
The commission also alleged that he used his office to confer an advantage on himself.
In another count, the ICPC said El-Rufai received N289.8 million as severance allowance in January 2023, above the approved amount.
It said he knew or ought to have known that the excess formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity.
The commission further alleged that between 2017 and 2023, El-Rufai received funds in foreign currency through a bank account from different individuals, which it described as proceeds of unlawful activity.
El-Rufai had earlier been arraigned on 10 counts alongside other defendants before the amendment.
His counsel Ukpong Abang said the defence was served with the amended charges in court and would review them before taking further steps.
“The charges are new to us. They were given to us this morning while we were already in court. That is why the matter could not proceed,” he said.
The case was adjourned for a hearing on the bail application.
In a related matter at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, where the ICPC is also prosecuting El-Rufai on separate charges, the court fixed April 14 for ruling on his bail application.
The former governor has denied the allegations.
