In a case brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, or ICPC, the trial of Mr. Olajimi Shakiru Adebisi Lawal and three other defendants began on Monday, July 21, 2025, before Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division.
Lawal was an advisor to Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State.
During their tenure in government service, the defendants are accused of abusing their positions and making fraudulent estacode payments. To support its case, the prosecution called three witnesses at the beginning of the trial: Mr. Samuel Aruwan, Mrs. Aisha Dikko Kalil, and Mrs. Bariyatu Yusuf. All three were former high-ranking officials of the Kaduna State Government.
As the Attorney-General of Kaduna State from 2019 to 2023, Kalil confirmed that the state government paid all tuition expenses for the international training she received directly to the relevant schools.
Estacode allowances, she clarified, were deposited into her personal Guaranty Trust Bank account.
The former attorney general explained that she never received any such money from the first defendant, Lawal, although acknowledging receiving over ₦5 million in estacode payments. Kalil went on to say that the total cost of tuition for the classes taken was $9,100.
Her account statement, certificates, and approvals for overseas training were among the supporting documents that were presented as proof.
In the same vein, the former Head of Service of Kaduna State, Mrs Bariyatu Yusuf, corroborated the process of foreign training sponsorship, stating that course fees and flight tickets were funded by the Ministry of Finance, while estacode payments were sent to her personal account.
She acknowledged receiving just under ₦15 million in estacodes and maintained that she never received any funds from Lawal even though she did not deny knowing him. Her certificates and account details were also tendered in court as evidence.
Meanwhile, the third witness, Aruwan, who served as the spokesperson and later Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, testified that his trainings were funded by the United States government and the Office of the National Security Adviser, not the Kaduna State Government.
He claimed that despite having a working relationship with the first defendant, neither Lawal nor the state government provided him any estacode allowances.
Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akpos, the ICPC prosecutor, then attempted to submit Aruwan’s written statement to the ICPC.
However, because the statement was received while the trial was still pending, the defense attorney protested, alleging procedural concerns.
Following discussions on the admissibility of the statement, the court adjourned the subject to September 24, 2025, for ruling and continuation of hearing.
As part of its continuous efforts to guarantee accountability and transparency in the administration of public funds, the ICPC is pursuing the case.
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