A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State has ordered the interim forfeiture of ₦1.37 billion allegedly diverted from the state’s coffers into a private account during the tenure of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The sum, which was intended for a now-abandoned light rail project, was allegedly transferred to an account held by Indo Kaduna Marts JV Nigeria Limited.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Justice H. Buhari issued the forfeiture order on February 28, 2025, following an ex parte application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The commission traced the diverted funds to a private bank account. The judge also instructed ICPC to publish a notice in two national newspapers, calling for any individuals or entities with an interest in the money to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
In its application filed on February 14, 2025, the ICPC argued that the light rail project, which the funds were allocated for, was never executed under El-Rufai’s administration. This left the people of Kaduna State deprived of the intended benefits of the transportation system.
The ICPC’s lawyer, E.O. Akponimisingha, alleged that state government officials had diverted the money through Indo Kaduna MRTS JV Nig Limited, a joint venture established in 2016 between the state government and Indian businesspeople.
The case has been adjourned to April 8, 2025, for those claiming an interest in the funds to present their case in court.
