August 16, (THEWILL) – Jimi Lawal, a close ally and former Special Adviser to the immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has been detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
THEWILL gathered that Lawal was detained by the anti-Graft Commission on Wednesday, over allegations involving a fictitious Light Rail Project valued at N11 billion. It was alleged that there was no contract file for the supposed light rail project which was fully paid for.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had indicted El-Rufai and some of his commissars and aides in alleged misappropriation of N432 billion during his eight years of administration.
Lawal was a senior adviser and counsellor on the Kaduna Economic Development Council from 2019 to 2023 and Special adviser during El-Rufai’s first term.
ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, confirmed the arrested, saying Lawal had been detained since Wednesday.
“Yes, Lawal is still with us, he came in on Wednesday evening and he will be released when he meets his bail condition”, the spokesperson said.
The ICPC had in a letter dated August 12, invited Lawal to its headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the letter, Lawal was requested to come along with “i. Copy of appointment/engagement letter with Kaduna State Government from 2015-2023. ii. Details of all companies associated to you. iii. Statement of all bank accounts from 2015 to 2023 (soft and hard copies). iv. Schedules of all your investments to date. v. Any other relevant document(s).”
