On Tuesday, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) charged Muhammad Bashir Saidu, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
Saidu, who previously served as the Commissioner of Finance during El-Rufai’s administration, is facing charges alongside Ibrahim Muktar, a public officer in the Ministry of Finance.
According to charge number FHC/KD/IC/2025, the defendants are accused of two counts of money laundering, despite earlier claims that Saidu had been cleared of all charges following a ten-month investigation.
The charge was signed by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, the Assistant Chief Legal Officer of the ICPC.
Court documents reveal that in March 2022, while serving as Commissioner of Finance, Saidu “accepted a cash payment of N155,000,000.00 from Ibrahim Muktar, exceeding the amount legally authorised. This sum was received indirectly through your Special Assistant, Muazu Abdu, thus committing an offence contrary to Section 2(a) and punishable under Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Additionally, the ICPC alleges that in March 2022, Saidu “indirectly took control of N155,000,000.00 received in cash on your behalf by Muazu Abdul from Ibrahim Muktar. You ought to have known that these funds were likely the proceeds of unlawful activity, specifically corruption, thus committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
