The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced prosecution of Mr. Olajimi Shakiru Adebisi Lawal, a former aide to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa'i, over alleged fraudulent estacode payments and abuse of public office.
The trial, which began on Monday at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, is being presided over by Justice R.M. Aikawa. Lawal is being tried alongside three other defendants for financial misconduct allegedly committed during their tenure in public service.
According to a statement signed by ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the case forms part of the Commission's broader commitment to promote accountability and integrity in the management of public resources.
Key Witness Testimonies
The anti-corruption agency presented three witnesses during the proceedings – all former high-ranking officials in the Kaduna State Government. Mrs. Aisha Dikko Kalil, who served as the state's Attorney-General from 2019 to 2023, testified that while her tuition fees for foreign training were paid directly by the government to academic institutions, her estacode allowances were deposited into her personal Guaranty Trust Bank account.
"I never received any such payment from the 1st Defendant, Mr. Jimi Lawal," Kalil stated under oath. She disclosed receiving over ₦5 million in estacode payments and confirmed that her government-sponsored tuition amounted to $9,100. The court admitted her account statements, course approvals, and training certificates as evidence.
Mrs. Bariyatu Yusuf, former Head of Service in Kaduna, corroborated this testimony, stating that the state's Ministry of Finance paid her course fees and flight tickets directly, while estacode allowances of nearly ₦15 million were deposited into her personal account. "I never received any funds from Mr. Lawal," she testified, though acknowledging a professional relationship with the defendant.
The third witness, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, former Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, testified that his foreign training was sponsored by the United States Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser. "I neither received estacode allowances from Mr. Lawal nor from the Kaduna State Government," Aruwan clarified.
Legal Proceedings
During the proceedings, ICPC's lead counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akpos, attempted to submit Mr. Aruwan's written statement to the Commission as evidence. However, the defense team objected, arguing that the statement was obtained after the trial had already commenced, raising procedural concerns about its admissibility.
The court has adjourned the matter to September 24, 2025, for ruling on the admissibility of the statement and continuation of the trial.
This case adds to the growing list of corruption-related prosecutions targeting former government officials in Nigeria, highlighting the ICPC's ongoing efforts to combat financial impropriety in public service.
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