BREAKING: El-Rufai’s Former Aide Jimi Lawal Regains Freedom Following Bail Approval

Former Special Adviser to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Jimi Lawal, has been freed from prison after fulfilling his bail requirements.

Lawal, alongside former Kaduna State Accountant-General Umar Waziri and ex-Finance Commissioner Yusuf Inuwa, faced charges of diverting ₦68 million from the state government’s coffers. The trio, together with Solar Life Nigeria Limited—the company allegedly used to launder the funds—was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before the Federal High Court in Kaduna.

The ICPC accused Lawal of orchestrating the transfer of ₦64.8 million in three installments—₦10 million, ₦47.8 million, and ₦7.3 million—into Solar Life Nigeria Limited’s account, where Lawal is purportedly the sole signatory.

On January 21, 2025, the court granted bail to the defendants under stringent conditions, which included:

• Two sureties each, with ₦50 million in like sum
• Sureties must own verifiable landed property in Kaduna with Certificates of Occupancy
• Defendants had to surrender all international, national, and official passports to the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar

Justice Aikawa, who presided over the case, assigned the release order to another judge before departing on an official assignment. However, despite meeting their bail conditions, the designated judge reportedly declined to sign the release order, causing delays in their release.

Upon his return on Thursday, Justice Aikawa personally signed Lawal’s release order, paving the way for his freedom.