Journalists were barred from the courtroom as proceedings began for former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s arraignment over alleged corruption-related offences.
Reporters who arrived at the court early in the day were prevented from entering by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), who formed a tight security cordon as El-Rufai was escorted into the courtroom.
El-Rufai arrived at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, under heavy security in a Hilux vehicle, accompanied by personnel from the DSS, Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Security officers on Tuesday, were said to have restricted vehicular movement around the court, forcing traffic into a single lane and intensifying security protocols.
The former Kaduna governor is being arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over serious allegations involving public funds.
His arraignment follows ICPC spokesperson John Odey’s announcement that the anti-graft agency is ready to prosecute, after El-Rufai spent close to three weeks in their custody.
Odey added that El-Rufai and Amadu Sule also face charges in a separate case at the Kaduna State High Court. Both cases focus on financial misconduct during his administration and represent a major step in ongoing anti-corruption efforts.
He confirmed that the former governor has been duly served and said the date for his arraignment in the Kaduna State High Court will be communicated by the court in due course.
