Breaking: Elrufai’s former Aide Shocked as Ex-Kaduna Officials Disown Him in ₦64.8m Trial
There was courtroom drama in Kaduna as the trial of Olajimi Lawal, a former aide to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, took a stunning twist when three former senior officials of the Kaduna State Government disowned him in open court over a ₦64.8 million fraud allegation.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Lawal and three others — Ismaila Yushau Maihanci, Abdulrashid Abdullahi, and Solar Life Nigeria Ltd — before Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna.
Lawal is accused of orchestrating the fraudulent transfer of ₦10 million, ₦47.84 million, and ₦7.32 million to Solar Life Nigeria Ltd, under the pretense that the funds were estacode payments for official foreign trainings.
However, the prosecution’s case gained momentum when former Attorney General of the State, Aisha Dikko, denied ever authorizing or receiving any estacode from Lawal or the implicated company. She told the court she received her approved estacodes directly from the government and tendered supporting evidence, including memos, training certificates, and bank records.
Also testifying, former Head of Service, Bariyatu Yusuf, echoed a similar stance. She confirmed she received estacode payments for her foreign trip, but none of the transactions went through Lawal or Solar Life Nigeria Ltd.
The third bombshell came from former Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, who revealed that his foreign training was fully sponsored by the U.S. Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser — not the Kaduna State Government — and he received no such payments.
The defense team raised objections over the admissibility of some prosecution documents, prompting the judge to adjourn the case to September 24, 2025, for ruling and continuation of trial.
Courtroom observers said Lawal appeared visibly rattled by the testimonies, which undercut his defense and linked him more directly to the allegedly fraudulent transactions.
The case is being closely watched as a litmus test for anti-corruption enforcement involving politically exposed persons.
