- Alhaji Saidu was charged along with one Ibrahim Muktar, ‘’a public officer in the employment of Ministry of Finance,’’ on Tuesday.
- According to charge No FHC/KD/IC/2025, the defendants are slammed when a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed charges against Muhammad Sa’idu, a former commissioner, for alleged money laundering.
The Kaduna police command had earlier arrested Sa’idu following a petition accusing him of diverting public funds.
Osuobeni Akponimisingha, ICPC’s assistant legal officer, filed the case at the federal high court in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Sa’idu held various positions during Nasir el-Rufai’s administration, including commissioner of local government affairs, chief of staff, and commissioner of finance.
The ICPC dismissed claims that Sa’idu was cleared of all charges after a 10-month investigation.
Sa’idu is charged alongside Ibrahim Muktar, a finance ministry staff member, according to suit No. FHC/KD/IC/2025.
The defendants face a two-count charge of money laundering.
“Sometime in March 2022 or thereabouts, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu, who at that time commissioner of finance, did accept cash payment of the sum of N155m from one Ibrahim Muktar exceeding the amount authorised by law, which sum you received in cash through proxy to wit: Muazu Abdu, your Special Assistant and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section2(a) and punishable under the Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” the charge sheet reads.
The ICPC alleges that Saidu indirectly controlled N155m received in cash from Ibrahim Muktar through Muazu Abdul, which he should have known was part of corrupt proceeds.
This offence is contrary to section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Section 18(3) states that anyone convicted under subsection (2) faces imprisonment for 4-14 years or a fine of at least five times the crime’s proceeds, or both.
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