By Our Reporter
A Federal High Court in Kaduna State has ordered the interim forfeiture of ₦1.37bn allegedly diverted from the state government’s coffers into a private account during the tenure of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The funds, which were intended for a light rail project in the state, were allegedly transferred into the account of Indo Kaduna Marts JV Nigeria Limited, a joint venture linked to the project.
The ruling was delivered on February 28, 2025, by Justice H. Buhari, following an ex parte application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The Commission had traced the diverted funds to a private bank account and sought the court’s intervention.
In addition to the interim forfeiture order, Justice Buhari instructed the ICPC to publish a notice in two national newspapers, inviting any individuals or entities with an interest in the funds to appear in court and present reasons why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
On February 14, 2025, ICPC had filed the ex parte application, highlighting that the light rail project, for which the funds were allocated, was never executed under El-Rufai’s administration, leaving the people of Kaduna State deprived of the intended transportation benefits.
The ICPC’s application, filed by its lawyer E.O. Akponimisingha, also alleged that state government officials facilitated the diversion of the funds through Indo Kaduna MRTS JV Nig Limited, a joint venture established in 2016 by the state and Indian business partners.
The court has adjourned the case until April 8, 2025, for anyone with a claim to the funds to present their case.