The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission is set to arraign three former officials of the ex-Governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-Rufai, in connection with a N64 million money laundering case on Friday.
The individuals facing charges include Lawal Adebisi, the former Senior Special Adviser/Counsellor to the governor; Umar Waziri, the former Accountant General of Kaduna State; and Yusuf Inuwa, the ex-Finance Commissioner.
Additionally, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, a company linked to the case, will also be arraigned. The funds in question were allegedly diverted to the company’s bank account.
ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, released a statement on Thursday, confirming that the accused would appear before the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
Bakare stated, “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 N64,800,562 in three tranches of N10,000,000,00, N47,840,000.00 and N7,320,562.00 to the bank account of Solar Life Nigeria limited where Mr. Lawal is believed to be the sole signatory.”
The four accused parties are expected to present their pleas in court on Friday, January 17, 2025.
In another development, the ICPC also recently charged Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, former Chief of Staff and Commissioner of Finance under El-Rufai, with money laundering involving N155 million.
The agency claims Sa’idu illegally paid the funds to Ibrahim Muktar, a public official at the state’s Ministry of Finance.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly accused El-Rufai’s administration of embezzling N423 billion, a claim the former governor strongly refuted.
