By MUHAMMED DANBABA
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced plans to arraign three former appointees of ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai in connection with a ₦64 million money laundering case.
Key Accused Persons
The accused include:
- Lawal Adebisi – Former Senior Special Adviser/Counsellor to the Governor.
- Umar Waziri – Former Accountant General of Kaduna State.
- Yusuf Inuwa – Former Finance Commissioner of Kaduna State.
Additionally, Solar Life Nigeria Limited, the company alleged to have received the diverted funds, has been joined in the case.
ICPC’s Allegations
In a statement by ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the commission alleges that:
- Mr. Lawal, in collaboration with the other accused, diverted ₦64,800,562 in three tranches:
- ₦10,000,000
- ₦47,840,000
- ₦7,320,562
- The funds were deposited into the account of Solar Life Nigeria Limited, for which Mr. Lawal is reportedly the sole signatory.
The accused are scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division, on Friday, January 17, 2025, to take their plea.
Related Case
This follows the recent arraignment of former Kaduna State Chief of Staff and Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, in a separate ₦155 million money laundering case.
The ICPC alleged that Sa’idu accepted a cash payment of ₦155,000,000 from a public officer, Ibrahim Muktar, in the Ministry of Finance.
ICPC’s Commitment to Justice
These cases underline the ICPC’s continued efforts to tackle corruption and money laundering within public offices, emphasizing accountability and transparency in governance.
