N11bn Fraud: El-Rufai’s Aide On Watch-List

The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) have reportedly placed an aide to former Governor, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Jimi Lawal, on their watch-list, for suspected fraudulent activities related to a government project worth N11 billion.

It was gathered that the DSS and Immigration have taken measures to monitor the individual’s movements and activities, pending the outcome of the investigation.

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SaharaReporters reports that Lawal was invited for questioning but failed to appear, prompting the ICPC to request the Department of State Service (DSS) and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to place him on a watch-list at airports, seaports, and land borders.

A copy of the letter to DSS and NIS which was seen by SaharaReporters 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.”

The ICPC is investigating Lawal for alleged criminal conspiracy and loans obtained without due process.

The commission discovered N144 million in his bank account from four private companies.
Twenty top officials and a company’s Managing Director have also been invited for questioning over $350 million loans meant for school rehabilitation and infrastructure projects.

The ICPC’s probe is part of an ongoing investigation into the administration of El-Rufai.

Recall that the Kaduna House of Assembly’s ad-Hoc Committee in June alleged that N423 billion was siphoned from the state government’s coffers between 2015 and 2023, and $1.4 million was withdrawn from the Kaduna State Economic Transformation Account.

El-Rufai has denied all allegations, claiming he was not given a fair hearing by the House of Assembly.