ICPC Drags el-Rufai’s Ally Jimi Lawal, 3 Others to Court Over Alleged Fraud
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed five charges against Jimi Lawal, a former Senior Special Adviser to former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, accusing him of corruption and money laundering.
The charges, filed on January 15, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, also name three other defendants: Umar Waziri, Yusuf Inuwa, and Solar Life Nigeria Limited. Lawal, who was a close associate of el-Rufai, is alleged to have misappropriated funds from the Kaduna State Government during his tenure.
According to the ICPC, the alleged offences occurred between 2018 and 2024, with Lawal accused of using his influence to divert significant sums of money from the state’s accounts into personal or business accounts, including that of Solar Life Nigeria Limited, where he was the sole signatory.
Allegations of Money Laundering
The ICPC’s case against Lawal includes several instances of illicit financial transactions. In one of the charges, the Commission alleges that in 2018, Lawal took control of N10,000,000 from the Kaduna State Accountant General’s Operational Account and transferred it to the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account of Solar Life Nigeria Limited, which he controlled. The ICPC claims that Lawal knew the funds were proceeds of corruption, violating the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The second count accuses Lawal of taking N47,840,000 from the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance through GTB in July 2018, further allegedly laundering the money into the Solar Life Nigeria Limited account.
Another charge highlights a transaction in September 2018, in which Lawal is accused of diverting N7,320,562 from the Kaduna State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Account. This sum, according to the ICPC, was also transferred to the same Solar Life account.
The ICPC argues that, as a public officer, Lawal should have known that these funds were illicit proceeds of corruption, which contravenes the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
False Statements and Obstruction of Justice
In a fourth count, the ICPC claims that in October 2024, Lawal made false statements during an investigation. He allegedly told investigators, Wellington Nkemadu and Gudi Johnson Daniel, that the total sum of N64,800,562 — derived from the various transfers — was paid as estacodes to two individuals, Bariatu Yusuf Mohammed and Aisha Dikko.
The ICPC asserts that Lawal knew this statement was false, an offence under Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. By providing the false information, Lawal is accused of obstructing justice and impeding the investigation into his financial activities.
Case Proceeding
The ICPC’s case against Jimi Lawal and the other defendants is currently under judicial consideration. If found guilty, Lawal could face serious penalties, including imprisonment, under the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
The trial is likely to bring further scrutiny on the financial practices of former government officials in Kaduna State, particularly concerning the diversion of public funds during el-Rufai’s administration. The ICPC has indicated its intent to aggressively pursue the case, highlighting its broader efforts to tackle corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria.
As the trial progresses, both the prosecution and the defense are expected to present evidence in what could become a high-profile legal battle. The outcomes of the case will likely have significant implications for the fight against corruption in the country.
