ICPC Obtains Court Order to Detain El-Rufai Ally Jimi Lawal Over N11 Billion Probe

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a Magistrate’s Court order in Abuja to detain Jimi Lawal, an ally of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, for 14 days. Lawal, who served as a Special Adviser and Senior Counselor during El-Rufai’s tenure, is under investigation for his involvement in several projects, including an allegedly failed N11 billion light rail contract.

Lawal’s inability to meet the bail conditions prompted the ICPC to request his detention. The conditions require him to deposit his international passport and provide two sureties, one of whom must be a Permanent Secretary and the other a civil service director.

A source within the ICPC, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, “As of Thursday evening, Lawal could not meet any of the bail conditions. We have decided to obtain an order from a Magistrate’s Court to keep him in custody for 14 days. We have already served the court order on Lawal to inform him of why he will remain with us for two weeks.”

Despite Lawal’s cooperation with the investigation, his legal team has submitted a request to the ICPC to reconsider the bail conditions. The ICPC is currently reviewing this request.

The ICPC has also placed Lawal on a watch list through the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The watch-list notification reads, “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.”

In response, Lawal has refuted the necessity of the watch list, asserting that he has not attempted to flee. Through his Media Office, he criticized the investigation, stating, “It is clear from the foregoing facts that this so-called investigation is malicious and politically-motivated. As a Senior Counselor and Chairman of the Kaduna State Economic Development Council, Lawal had no budget and authority to approve contracts. So, all the noise about N11 billion light rail project is nothing but hot air.”

Lawal expressed confidence in the judicial process, emphasizing his readiness to defend his integrity. “Our faith in the country and the judiciary remains unshaken. We will have our day at the appropriate time and fora,” he stated.