The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has discovered N1.37 billion allegedly diverted from funds allocated for Kaduna State’s now-abandoned light rail project.

The money, it was learned, was siphoned into a private account during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who led the state from 2015 to 2023.

The ICPC detailed its findings in an application filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the forfeiture of the funds. The commission argued that the alleged diversion deprived Kaduna residents of a vital rail transport system.

According to the ICPC, the fraud stemmed from a purported joint venture agreement signed in October 2016 between the El-Rufai-led administration and Indo Kaduna Mrts JV Nigeria Limited. Payments to the entity began in December 2016, even though the company was not officially incorporated until May 10, 2017.

Between December 2016 and January 2017, the El-Rufai administration approved the payment of N11.1 billion to Mrts JV Nigeria’s account with Sterling Bank. Out of this amount, N1.37 billion was traced to a private account.

On February 14, 2024, the ICPC sought an interim forfeiture order and requested that notices be published in national newspapers, inviting any claimants to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited.

The investigation began after the ICPC received a petition in June 2024 from a lawyer, M. Yahaya, alleging financial misappropriation by officials of the El-Rufai administration. The commission’s probe found that the Kaduna State Government had transferred N11.1 billion in multiple tranches to the joint venture’s account before it was officially registered.

Payments included N890.3 million from the state treasury on December 23, 2016, N2.3 billion on January 10, 2017, and two more tranches of N3 billion and N4.9 billion on January 17, 2017.

On the same day that the final payments were made, Skipper Nigeria Limited, linked to the joint venture, directed Sterling Bank to place the funds in a fixed deposit account. By July 2019, Indo Kaduna Mrts JV Nigeria Limited refunded N10 billion to the Kaduna State Government, leaving a balance of N1.046 billion.

The fixed deposit had also accrued N326.8 million in interest, both of which were allegedly diverted to accounts belonging to GTA Engineering Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Skipper Nigeria Limited.

The ICPC claims that the N1.046 billion was labeled as payment for feasibility study, but no such study was conducted. The commission has since recovered both the diverted sum and the accrued interest, totaling N1.37 billion, and is now seeking a court order for its forfeiture.

Former appointees of El-Rufai have denied any wrongdoing, calling the ICPC’s move an abuse of power. They argue that the project was part of a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer agreement requiring Kaduna State to contribute 15 percent equity, with the rest funded by an Indian loan.

However, the project stalled due to the federal government’s failure to provide a sovereign guarantee. The former officials insist that the joint venture was legally established and challenge critics to present evidence of misconduct.

A former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has lauded the country’s one time amilitary President, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd) for his generous contributions to the growth of the nation, saying Nigeria’s history is incomplete without the his story. 

Jonathan said this in Abuja on Thursday during the launch of a book by the ex-dictator, titled, ‘A Journey in Service”.

Jonathan noted at the event which also doubles as the launch of Babangida’s presidential library, “So, Ibrahim Bagandiga as we all know, is one of the most charismatic leaders in this country. He is somebody that, up to date, people go as if they are going on a pilgrimage to consult him. We thank God for giving him that grace and the wisdom to continue to mentor people.

“In terms of leadership, Nigerians know you have contributed significantly in terms of the infrastructure development of this country and social mobilisation. We cannot write the history of Nigeria without dedicating a reasonable part to your service as the President of Nigeria.

“You’ve done well!”

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According to him, with the launch of the book, the former Head of State has contributed immensely to the documentation of the country’s rich history.

“So, if you contribute to the documentation of the history, it makes your history stronger, more relevant,” he continued.

“So, today, you’re helping us,” the former Bayelsa governor told the gathering which included past and present leaders.

Jonathan thanked the former president for launching the presidential library.

He called on other leaders, especially ex-presidents to key into building a presidential library.

According to him, this will aid in better documentation of Nigeria’s history.

Jonathan, who is also a former governor of Bayelsa State, asked the Federal Government to help in the management of these libraries as it is done in several parts of the world.

“They are a source of history. If any scholar wants to know what happens at a segment of history, he goes to the presidential library,” he said.

General Babangida was at the helm of affairs between 1987 and 1993 when he stepped aside as a result of the heat that generated following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has once again condemned the local government crisis that erupted in Osun State on Monday, resulting in the loss of six lives.

In a statement issued via his verified X handle on Tuesday, the former VP described the chaos as a brutal display of lawlessness, political brigandage, and subversion of democracy.

“Nigerians bore witness to a chilling display of lawlessness yesterday, as the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress exposed the depths of its desperation to retain power at all costs — through sheer political brigandage and the subversion of democracy,” Atiku wrote.

He stated that the APC’s actions in Osun State were an assault on Nigeria’s democracy and must be condemned.

“In Osun State, the APC orchestrated a full-scale assault on the democratic process, attempting to hijack the local government elections through brute force.

“Armed thugs and mercenaries, operating under the party’s protection, launched an audacious bid to seize control of all 30 local government area council secretariats. And yet, the so-called national leadership of the APC and the presidency watched in complicit silence,” Atiku stated.

He argued that had it not been for the fearless resistance of the Osun people — who stood their ground against the APC’s rampaging foot soldiers — democracy in the state would have been trampled under the boots of political marauders acting at the behest of their party’s overlords.

He said Osun State would never bow to anti-democratic forces, as the people have shown beyond doubt that they will not allow their electoral rights to be stolen, no matter the level of intimidation.

Atiku further urged the security agencies deployed for Saturday’s elections to uphold their constitutional duty with professionalism by “refusing to be used as enforcers of the APC’s criminal agenda” because the world is watching.

He warned that these are dangerous times and that the APC has “abandoned any pretence of democratic legitimacy, resorting instead to brute force in its bid to cling to power,” despite resistance from the people.

“We commend the brave citizens of Osun for standing up to the tyranny that sought to break them. Their resilience is a beacon of hope in the face of unrelenting oppression,” Atiku stated.

He added, “Tinubu’s APC has left no doubt — it will stop at nothing to subvert democracy and impose itself against the will of the people. But Nigerians must resist. The time-honoured warning remains true: eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

He further warned, “President Bola A. Tinubu and his dwindling band of enablers must cease their reckless acts of political sabotage — not just in Osun or Lagos, but across Nigeria.

“The people demand governance, not chaos. Nigerians will not sit idly while their democracy is hijacked by a power-drunk regime intent on setting the country on fire.”