By Nkechi Eze
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has commenced the trial of Mr. Olajimi Shakiru Adebisi Lawal, a former aide to the ex-Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, along with three other defendants, over allegations of fraudulent estacode payments and abuse of public office during their tenure in government.
The trial, which began on Monday, July 21, 2025, is being presided over by Honourable Justice R.M. Aikawa, and is based on a case filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to a statement issued by the ICPC’s spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the defendants are facing multiple charges stemming from their alleged involvement in irregular estacode disbursements and financial mismanagement while serving in various capacities within the Kaduna State Government.
At the commencement of proceedings, the prosecution, led by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akpos, called three former senior officials of the state government to testify: Mrs. Aisha Dikko Kalil, former Attorney-General of Kaduna State (2019–2023); Mrs. Bariyatu Yusuf, former Head of Service; and Mr. Samuel Aruwan, former Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs.
In her testimony, Mrs. Kalil told the court that during her time in office, all tuition fees for foreign training she attended were paid directly to the foreign institutions by the Kaduna State Government. She, however, acknowledged that estacode allowances were paid into her personal Guaranty Trust Bank account.
The former Attorney-General confirmed receiving over ₦5 million in estacode payments for official trips abroad, but clarified that she never received any of those funds from the 1st Defendant, Mr. Jimi Lawal. She also testified that the tuition fees for the courses she attended amounted to a total of $9,100.
Supporting documents including her bank account statement, official approvals for the foreign training, and the certificates she obtained were tendered in evidence before the court.
Testifying next, Mrs. Bariyatu Yusuf, who served as Head of Service, corroborated the official process for foreign training sponsorship. She said that course fees and flight tickets were usually paid for by the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance, while estacode allowances were sent directly into her personal bank account.
Mrs. Yusuf admitted to receiving just under ₦15 million in estacodes but maintained that she never collected any funds from Mr. Lawal, although she acknowledged knowing him. Her bank account details and relevant certificates were also tendered as evidence.
In his own testimony, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, who had previously served as Spokesperson and later Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs in the state, told the court that the foreign training programmes he attended were sponsored by the United States government and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), not the Kaduna State Government.
Mr. Aruwan emphasized that although he was professionally acquainted with Mr. Lawal, he did not receive any estacode allowances from him or from the state government. The ICPC prosecution team then sought to tender Mr. Aruwan’s written statement to the Commission as evidence.
However, the defense counsel objected to the admissibility of the statement, citing procedural irregularities on the grounds that it was obtained during the pendency of the trial. Following legal arguments on the issue from both sides, the court adjourned the matter to September 24, 2025, for ruling on the admissibility and continuation of hearing.
