The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has slammed multiple counts of money laundering and corruption against Jimi Lawal, a former senior adviser to the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai. Charges filed on Wednesday accuse him of illicit financial activities during his time in office.
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Lawal, who was a senior adviser to el-Rufai and served in the Kaduna Economic Development Council from 2019 until 2023, was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on misappropriating state funds. He had also served as a special adviser to the governor during the first term of el-Rufai. The case, under the file number FCH/KD/16c/2025, was before a federal high court in Kaduna, with ICPC’s Assistant Chief Legal Officer, Osuobeni Akponimishingha.
Specifically, the ICPC has accused Lawal of deceitful financial deals between 2018 and 2024 in conspiracy with Umar Waziri, Yusuf Inuwa, and a company, Solar Life Nigeria Limited. The charges focused on the fraudulent transfers of large sums from government accounts to those controlled by Lawal.
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Details of the Allegations
The first count alleged that in 2018, Lawal took control of N10 million belonging to the Kaduna State Accountant General Operational Account and transferred same via the Guaranty Trust Bank Automated Payment System (GAPS) into an account of Solar Life Nigeria Limited, of which Lawal was the sole signatory.
The second count further alleged that in July 2018, Lawal again accessed N47.8 million from the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance. The funds were later transferred to the same Solar Life account. In addition, in September 2018, while serving as senior special adviser to el-Rufai, Lawal is accused of taking N7.3 million from the Kaduna State internally generated revenue account. These funds were subsequently transferred to Solar Life Nigeria Limited’s account.
The ICPC said Lawal ought to have reasonably known such funds were proceeds of unlawful acts of corruption, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The commission said Lawal’s actions contravened Section 18(2)(d), punishable under Section 18(3) of the Act.
False Statements and Obstruction of Justice
The third count accused Lawal of making false statements to the investigating officers in October 2024. At the investigation, Lawal was said to have lied that N64,800,562, paid in three tranches into his account by the Kaduna State Government through Solar Life Nigeria Limited Account, was for payment of two persons, Bariatu Yusuf Mohammed and Aisha Dikko on estacode. The ICPC insisted that Lawal knew this statement was false, an offense punishable under Section 25(1)(a) and Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Legal Proceedings
He is likely to be arraigned along with his other co-defendants within weeks, including the corporate entity, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, said to have provided the avenue for perpetrating the fraudulent transactions. The charges bring further attention to the ICPC’s ongoing efforts in Daura’s matter to tackle corruption within Nigeria’s public service, especially high-profile individuals who misuse their positions for personal benefit.
This case adds to the growing list of high-profile corruption trials involving former government officials, as the ICPC continues its work to hold individuals accountable for alleged financial misconduct. Lawal’s trial is likely to have wider ramifications, especially in the way public figures handle public funds and the role of corporate entities in facilitating illicit transactions.
With the court case still ongoing, there could also be key precedents it will be able to set for handling corruption and money laundering trials in this country.
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Reported by: Alhassan Alkahiru from Kaduna Edited by: Mr. Chibueze Onwuka