A Federal High Court in Kaduna, Nigeria has ordered the interim forfeiture of ₦1.37 billion allegedly diverted from the state government’s coffers during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The money, reportedly funneled into an account belonging to Indo Kaduna Marts JV Nigeria Limited, was initially allocated for a light rail project that was never executed.
Justice H. Buhari granted the forfeiture order on February 28, 2025, following an ex parte application filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The commission traced the funds to a private bank account and argued that the diversion deprived Kaduna residents of the benefits of a rail transportation system.
The judge also directed the ICPC to publish a notice in two national newspapers, inviting any interested parties to present their claims before the court on April 8, 2025, to explain why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
