Corruption
ICPC Charges Ex-El-Rufai Aide With N155m Money Laundering Allegation
Saidu, who also served as Commissioner of Finance under El-Rufai’s administration, was arraigned alongside Ibrahim Muktar, a public officer in the Ministry of Finance, before the Federal High Court.
Abuja, Nigeria- The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on charges of alleged money laundering.
Saidu, who also served as Commissioner of Finance under El-Rufai’s administration, was arraigned alongside Ibrahim Muktar, a public officer in the Ministry of Finance, before the Federal High Court.
The duo faces a two-count charge of laundering N155 million in March 2022.
According to court documents, Saidu allegedly received the sum in cash through a proxy, Muazu Abdu, his Special Assistant. The amount, reportedly handed over by Muktar, exceeded the legally permitted cash transaction limit.
The ICPC charged that Saidu’s actions violated Section 2(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 19(d) of the same law.
This development comes after earlier claims suggested Saidu had been cleared of allegations following a 10-month investigation.
The ICPC has accused Saidu of indirectly taking control of ₦155 million in March 2022. According to the agency, the money was received in cash on his behalf by Muazu Abdul from Ibrahim Muktar.
The ICPC alleges that Saidu should have reasonably known the funds were proceeds of corruption, an unlawful activity.
This, the agency claims, is an offence under Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the same law.
Section 18(3) stipulates that anyone found guilty of violating Subsection (2) faces a prison term of four to fourteen years, a fine of at least five times the value of the illicit proceeds, or both.
The charge, signed by ICPC Assistant Chief Legal Officer Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, was filed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
