The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has filed charges against Jimi Lawal, a former aide to the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, on accusations of corruption and money laundering.
Lawal, who served as a senior adviser to El-Rufai and as a counsellor at the Kaduna Economic Development Council from 2019 to 2023, is facing five counts of criminal misconduct. He had also served as El-Rufai’s special adviser during his first term as governor.
The charges stem from alleged actions in 2018, when Lawal is accused of misappropriating N10 million from the Kaduna State Accountant General’s Operational Account and transferring it to an account held by Solar Life Nigeria Limited, a company where Lawal was the sole signatory.
Additionally, Lawal is accused of diverting N47.8 million from the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance into the same Solar Life account. The ICPC alleges that Lawal was aware that these funds were proceeds of corrupt practices.
Further allegations include the misappropriation of N7.3 million from the Kaduna State Internally Generated Revenue account, as well as making a false statement to investigators in October 2024, where he claimed the funds were paid to individuals as estacode.
The ICPC stated that these alleged actions contravene several sections of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Lawal will face trial alongside Umar Waziri, Yusuf Inuwa, and Solar Life Nigeria Limited.
