Jimi Lawal, a former special adviser to Kaduna State’s most recent governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been summoned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) about an alleged ₦11 billion fraudulent Light Rail Project.
Several industries are included in the probe, which reflects the breadth of the alleged financial malfeasance under El-Rufai’s leadership.
Lawal is being investigated for his involvement in a project that was fully paid for but that the ICPC believes to be a hoax.
Lawal was supposed to appear before a team of investigators, but he did not show up or send a representative, according to sources within the ICPC.
In addition to stepping up its investigation into Lawal’s financial activities, the commission has asked that he be added to the watchlists of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The purpose of this action is to stop him from leaving the nation in order to evade punishment.
The Nation claims that the DSS and NIS were given access to a copy of the ICPC’s letter outlining the accusations against Lawal.
Lawal is being probed for “criminal conspiracy” and “obtaining loans (foreign and domestic) without following due process,” according to the letter. Lawal is originally from Ogun State.
Additionally, it was disclosed that Lawal’s bank account, maintained with a significant financial institution, showed receipts from four private companies totaling ₦144 million.
The commission issued the watchlist order because it believes the former aide is plotting to avoid prosecution.
In an expanded inquiry of the previous Kaduna State government, the ICPC has also called in 20 senior officials and the managing director of a business about $350 million in loans.
The purported purpose of these funds was to finance important infrastructure projects such as school rehabilitation.
The officials, comprising accountants and project coordinators from several state-run projects, will be questioned from August 13 to August 16.
Among those in attendance were Mariam Sani Dangaji, the Kaduna State Transportation Program’s Project Coordinator, and Nicolas Hassan Samuel, the project accountant.
Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project coordinator Yahaya Aminu and project accountant Nasiru Dahiru are two more important players.
Several industries are included in the probe, which reflects the breadth of the alleged financial malfeasance under El-Rufai’s leadership.
An unnamed insider at the ICPC revealed, “We got a lot of petitions about the El-Rufai government. To make sure these petitions weren’t without merit, they were carefully examined.
“Some even obtained legal representation, which increased their legitimacy. It is now necessary to question these people in light of our preliminary results.”
The scrutiny of El-Rufai’s administration is becoming more intense as a result of this probe.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly’s ad hoc committee revealed in June that between May 2015 and May 2023, almost ₦423 billion was embezzled from state funds.
The committee also found that $1.4 million had been taken out of the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account, which begs more concerns about the administration’s handling of funds.
The report of the Assembly also suggested that eight people and businesses return more than ₦19 billion for work that was either overpaid or not completed.
In addition, 15 contractors with same situations were ordered to return ₦36 billion.
El-Rufai has angrily rejected any wrongdoing in the face of growing allegations, claiming the House of Assembly has not given him a fair trial.
Since then, he has filed a lawsuit to refute the committee’s report, so initiating a drawn-out legal dispute.
