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N11bn Probe: DSS, Immigration Place Ex-El-Rufai Adviser, Lawal, on Watchlist

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Jimi Lawal, a former Special Adviser to the ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has been thrust into the spotlight as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) intensifies its investigation into an alleged fraudulent Light Rail Project valued at N11 billion.

The project, which has drawn significant scrutiny, is part of a broader inquiry into the financial dealings of the El-Rufai administration, raising serious concerns about governance and accountability.

The ICPC, Nigeria’s anti-corruption watchdog, summoned Lawal for questioning concerning his involvement in the controversial project. However, the former adviser failed to honor the invitation, prompting the commission to take decisive action. In a letter addressed to the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the ICPC requested that Lawal be placed on a watch-list across all airports, seaports, and land borders. The commission expressed fears that Lawal might attempt to flee the country to evade justice.

The letter, which has since been made public, outlines the gravity of the situation. “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,” the letter stated.

Lawal’s alleged involvement in the Light Rail Project is not the only issue under investigation. The ICPC has also uncovered a sum of N144 million in his bank account, reportedly linked to four private companies. This discovery has further complicated the situation, as it raises questions about the transparency and integrity of the transactions associated with the project.

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The investigation into Lawal’s activities is part of a larger probe into the financial dealings of the El-Rufai administration. Twenty top officials and a company’s Managing Director have also been invited for questioning over loans amounting to $350 million, which were initially intended for school rehabilitation and infrastructure projects in Kaduna State. These loans, now under intense scrutiny, are believed to have been obtained without following due process.

The controversy surrounding the El-Rufai administration’s financial management has been building for some time. In June, an ad-hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly released a damning report accusing the administration of siphoning N423 billion from the state government’s coffers between 2015 and 2023. The report also alleged that $1.4 million was withdrawn from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account without proper documentation.

The committee’s findings have sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability. Hundreds of protesters, under the banner of Kaduna Citizens Watch for Good Governance (KCWGG), recently marched to the Government House in Kaduna, demanding a thorough investigation and the prosecution of the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for alleged corruption. The protesters, who walked from UTC Bus, along Ali Akilu Road, to Government House, carried placards with inscriptions condemning the financial mismanagement and abuse of power allegedly perpetrated by the El-Rufai administration.

One of the key issues highlighted by the protesters was the alleged diversion of N10.5 billion meant for pastoral nomadism and the construction of a Milk Industry in Damau, Kubau Local Government Area, to the construction of Galaxy Mall in Kaduna. The ad-hoc committee’s report also uncovered overpayments to contractors, payments to unregistered companies, and funds disbursed for incomplete projects, amounting to over N36.3 billion. These revelations have further fueled public anger and calls for justice.

Victor Duniya, the chairman of KCWGG, addressed journalists at the Government House gate, emphasizing the need for accountability. He cited the report’s findings, noting that large sums of money were withdrawn from the state treasury without proper documentation. The most alarming discovery was an expenditure of over N11 billion on a non-existent Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) transportation scheme, with no evidence to support its implementation.

Duniya also criticised El-Rufai’s response to the allegations. The former governor has dismissed the report as a politically motivated hatchet job, claiming that he served Kaduna State with integrity and to the best of his capacity. In a statement, El-Rufai described the probe as “jaundiced” and urged the public to disregard it. However, the protesters remain unconvinced, accusing the former governor of attempting to undermine the current administration of Governor Uba Sani.

The protesters expressed their support for Governor Sani, commending him for allowing the legislative arm of government to function independently, a move they believe was long overdue. They urged the governor to implement the relevant sections of the committee’s report and forward the findings to anti-corruption agencies for further action.

Following the protest, Duniya was invited to a closed-door meeting with the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Hadiza Balarabe, and other top government officials. The outcome of the meeting has not been disclosed, but it is expected to influence the next steps in the ongoing investigation.

As the ICPC continues its probe into the El-Rufai administration’s financial dealings, the public awaits further developments. The case of Jimi Lawal and the alleged N11 billion Light Rail Project is just one of many issues that have come to light, raising serious concerns about corruption and governance in Kaduna State. The outcome of this investigation will likely have far-reaching implications, not just for those directly involved, but for the broader fight against corruption in Nigeria.

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