Muhammad Bashir Saidu, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has been charged with money laundering. The charges were filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Saidu, who also served as the Commissioner for Finance in Kaduna during El-Rufai’s administration, faces these charges along with Ibrahim Muktar, a public officer at the Ministry of Finance. The two are accused of involvement in money laundering activities.
This legal action comes after a previous claim that Saidu had been cleared of all charges following a 10-month investigation. However, the latest charges reveal new details. The ICPC alleges that Saidu received N155 million in cash from Muktar, an amount that exceeded what is legally permissible. This payment was made through Saidu’s Special Assistant, Muazu Abdu.
Further allegations state that Saidu indirectly took control of the N155 million, which the ICPC claims was linked to corruption. The charges are based on Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022, and Saidu and Muktar could face serious legal consequences if found guilty.
This case marks a significant development in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, with high-profile figures being scrutinized for illegal financial activities during their time in office.
