El-Rufai’s ex-Chief of Staff released after 50 days in detention

Bashir Saidu, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has regained his freedom after spending 50 days in detention over alleged money laundering charges.

Confirming his release on Wednesday, El-Rufai described Saidu’s detention as an “unjustified incarceration,” alleging that it was politically motivated.

“Bashir has been my friend for over 53 years a Barewa College classmate, former Commissioner of Local Government and Finance, and former Chief of Staff,” El-Rufai said in a tweet on X.

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“That is the main reason behind his persecution, and the payback to those behind it will be known on or before the 2027 elections, in sha Allah,” he added.

The Punch reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had arraigned Saidu and Ibrahim Muktar, a civil servant in the state’s Ministry of Finance, on two counts of money laundering at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.

The charges alleged that Saidu accepted a cash payment of N155 million from Muktar in March 2022, exceeding the legally permitted amount, and indirectly took control of the funds, which he reasonably ought to have known were proceeds of corruption.

According to the ICPC, Saidu’s actions violated Section 2(a) and were punishable under Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The commission further alleged that Saidu indirectly took control of the N155 million, which he “reasonably ought to have known” was proceeds of corruption, constituting an offence under Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Under Section 18(3), anyone found guilty of such violations faces a prison term of four to 14 years, a fine of at least five times the value of the illicit funds, or both.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has also accused El-Rufai of allegedly diverting over ₦423 billion in state funds.