The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is set to arraign three former appointees of Kaduna State’s ex-Governor Nasiru El-Rufai on Friday over alleged money laundering involving N64 million.
The accused include Lawal Adebisi, the ex-Senior Special Adviser/Counsellor to the governor; Umar Waziri, the former Accountant General of Kaduna State; and Yusuf Inuwa, the former Finance Commissioner.
Allegations and Charges
ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare confirmed that the trio, alongside Solar Life Nigeria Limited, a company linked to the alleged fraud, would appear before the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
“In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division, the ICPC is accusing Mr. Lawal of conniving with the two other accused persons to divert the total sum of N64,800,562 in three tranches of N10 million, N47.84 million, and N7.32 million to the bank account of Solar Life Nigeria Limited, where Mr. Lawal is believed to be the sole signatory,” Bakare revealed.
The four defendants are expected to take their plea in court today, January 17, 2025.
Previous Charges Against El-Rufai’s Administration
This latest arraignment follows a similar case last week, where El-Rufai’s former Chief of Staff and Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, was charged with laundering N155 million. The ICPC alleged that Sa’idu illegally transferred the funds to a public officer, Ibrahim Muktar, in Kaduna State’s Ministry of Finance.
Alleged Financial Mismanagement
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had previously indicted the El-Rufai administration for mismanaging N423 billion during its tenure—a claim the former governor has consistently denied.
The ICPC’s ongoing investigations into the financial dealings of the administration highlight the anti-graft agency’s commitment to holding public officials accountable.
Observers are keenly watching the unfolding legal proceedings, which may have significant implications for political accountability and transparency in governance.
