By Obinna Uballa
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was brought before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday under heavy security as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) commenced his arraignment over alleged corruption-related offences.
El-Rufai arrived at the court premises at about 9:00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle and remained inside for more than 30 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom around 9:34 a.m.
Dressed in a light green babanriga and matching cap, the former governor was surrounded by security operatives as officials of the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS) formed a protective cordon while leading him into the courtroom.
Journalists who had arrived as early as 7:00 a.m. to cover the proceedings were, however, denied access to the courtroom by DSS operatives.
The New Diplomat had reported that security had earlier been heightened around the Federal High Court premises, located within the old Nigerian Defence Academy area, with heavily armed personnel deployed from the early hours of the day.
The security team included operatives of the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force, the Mobile Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Vehicular movement around the court was restricted, forcing motorists into a single lane from the Ungwan Sarki axis through Kawo, a development that caused traffic disruptions in the area.
The arraignment followed an earlier announcement by the ICPC that the former governor would be charged before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday, March 24, 2026
