Jimi Lawal, Former Adviser to Nasir El-Rufai, on the Run for 11 Billion Corruption Allegation

The Giantability Media Network reliably gathered from the Sahara reporter and Inter region sources that on the 13^th of August 2024, Mr. Jimi Lawal, the former adviser to Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State is under investigation. He is suspected to have been involved in fraudulence of the Light Rail government project which worth 11 billion naira.

Mr. Jimi Lawal was told to appear before The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for questioning but he failed to meet with them as scheduled. His actions led to the ICPC placing him on a watch-list to be arrested immediately if found on the airport, seaport or land borders with the help of the Department of State Service (DSS) and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). He is believed to have gone into hiding to escape justice.

According to the Sahara reporter, a copy of the letter issued by ICPC to DSS and NIS reads: “The above mentioned person (Lawal Shakiru Olujimi Adebisi), who hails from Ogun State and speaks Yoruba and English fluently, is being investigated for the offence of criminal conspiracy”.

“Credible information at the commission’s disposal suggests that the suspect, who is under investigation, is most likely to flee the country to evade being prosecuted”.

“You are therefore, kindly requested to place him on the watch-list and arrest him if seen in any of the airports, seaports or land border and inform this commission accordingly.”

Mr. Jimi Lawal is being investigated for alleged fraudulence of the Light Rail government project and for obtaining loans without due process. It was discovered that the project funding was allegedly paid in full but there was no contract filed for the implementation of the project. Also, the ICPC found 144 million naira in the accused bank account from 4 private organizations.

The ICPC has relatively carried out an investigation on 20 tops officials and the Managing Director of a company, of over 350 million dollar loans meant for the reconstruction of schools and infrastructure projects.

Further investigation is being done on the administration of the former Governor El-Rufai in Kaduna State. This was triggered by the number of endorsed petitions the ICPC received to investigate the administration.

Earlier this year, in June the Kaduna House of Assembly’s ad-Hoc Committee alleged that 423 billion naira was funneled from the state government’s funds between May 29th 2015 and May 29th 2023, and 1.4 million dollars was cumulatively withdrawn from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account. Part of the investigation carried out revealed by the panel showed that the value of contracts awarded from 1999 to 2023 by El-Rufai’s administration was N510,407,166,975.39, but it only paid N198,921,880,169.04 to contractors. However, former Governor El-Rufai alleges that the House of Assembly did not give him a fair hearing, denying all allegations thrown at him.