Alleged graft: El-Rufai to explain N579m severance pay

Elrufai

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, is to account for overpayment of N579m as severance allowance between 2020 and 2023.

He was said to be entitled to N40million after his first and second terms in office.

Also, he is expected to explain to the court how he came about the over $781,900 strange deposits in his domiciliary account by a staff member and some individuals.

One of the affected staff members is on the run.

Some of the individuals have escaped from Nigeria.

The details of the allegations were contained in the charge sheet, dated March 18, 2026, which the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed against the ex-governor before the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division. The former governor was arraigned yesterday.

The ICPC alleged that el-Rufai illegally collected N289.8 million as severance allowance on two occasions in September 2020 and January 2023.

The total severance package was about N579 million instead of the entitled sum of about N40 million, amounting to N20million each of his two terms.

The overpayment was more than 300 per cent of his basic salary as a severance allowance.

The commission alleged that the former governor reasonably ought to have known that the funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts, including corruption, thereby violating provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

All the allegations were denied by el-Rufai, who also applied for bail.

The court will rule on the application for bail on Tuesday.