Muhammad Bashir Saidu, the former Chief of Staff to Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has been charged to the Federal High Court in Kaduna by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Saidu, who also served as Commissioner for Finance in Kaduna State during El-Rufai’s administration, was charged alongside Ibrahim Muktar, a public officer in the Ministry of Finance.
The ICPC filed a two-count charge of money laundering against the defendants, contrary to earlier claims that Saidu had been exonerated of all charges after a 10-month investigation. The charge was signed by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, Assistant Chief Legal Officer of ICPC.
According to the court document, Saidu allegedly accepted a cash payment of N155,000,000 from Ibrahim Muktar, exceeding the amount authorized by law. The document stated that Saidu received the sum through a proxy, Muazu Abdu, his Special Assistant. This act is contrary to Section 2(a) and punishable under Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Furthermore, the ICPC alleged that Saidu indirectly took control of the same sum of N155,000,000 received in cash by Muazu Abdul from Ibrahim Muktar.
The commission claimed that Saidu reasonably ought to have known that the fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity, namely corruption. This act is contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
