The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has commenced the trial of Mr. Olajimi Shakiru Adebisi Lawal before a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna.
Jimi Lawal, a former aide of ex-governor Nasir El-Rufai, is standing trial over alleged fraudulent payments of estacode and abuse of public office during their tenure of office in government.
At the Court presided over by Justice R.M. Aikawa, the ICPC prosecutor, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akpos presented three witnesses namely; Aisha Dikko Kalil, Bariyatu Yusuf, and Samuel Aruwan; who are all former public officers with the Kaduna State Government, to buttress his case.
While taking the witness stand, Mrs. Kalil, a former Attorney-General of Kaduna State (2019–2023), said that all the tuition fees for the foreign trainings she attended were paid directly by the state government to the respective institutions.
She however said that estacode allowances were paid into her personal account domiciled with Guaranty Trust Bank.
Kili who confirmed receiving over ₦5m as payment of estacode, however said that she did not receive any such payment from the 1st Defendant, Mr. Jimi Lawal.
Mrs. Kalil also said that the tuition fee for the she courses attended, totalled $9,100 and tendered documents, including her bank’s statement of account, approvals for foreign training, and certificates obtained as evidence.
In her own testimony, Mrs Baruyatu Yusuf, who was Head of Service of Kaduna State, corroborated the process of foreign training sponsorship, saying that the course fees and flight tickets were funded by the Ministry of Finance, while estacode payments were sent to her personal account.
Mrs Yusuf said she received about ₦15m in estacodes and said that she never received any funds from Mr. Lawal even though she did not deny knowing him and tendered the certificates and her bank account’s details as evidence.
In his own testimony, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, who was Spokesperson to Governor El-Rufai and later Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State Government, told the court that his trainings were funded by the U.S. Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser, and not Kaduna State Government.
Aruwan pointedly said he was professionally acquainted with the 1st Defendant, Jimi Lawal, but did not receive estacode allowances from him or the Kaduna State government.
At that point, the ICPC prosecutor, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akpos sought to tender Mr Aruwan’s written statement to the ICPC; but,was objected to by the defence counsel who cited procedural concerns since the statement was obtained during the pendency of the trial.
Accordingly, following arguments on the admissibility or otherwise of Aruwan’s statement, the court adjourned the matter to September 24, 2025, for ruling and continuation of hearing.
