ICPC’s Watch List Request Sent To DSS, NIS Remains
Following the investigation opened by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to keep the Ex-Special Adviser and Ally of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Jimi Lawal , in detention custody for 14 days over 11 billion naira alleged fraud, a Magistrate’s Court in Abuja has granted the application.
Meanwhile,the commission opted to detain Lawal because he could not meet the bail conditions.
Lawal, who was a former Special Adviser/ Senior Counselor to the Ex-Governor El-Rufai, is being investigated on some projects executed during the former Governor’s tenure, which is hinged on allegedly failed N11 billion light rail contract.
However, Lawal’s counsel has applied to ICPC to vary the bail conditions given to his client.
Lawal was asked to deposit his international passport and produce two sureties, including a Permanent Secretary and a director in the civil service, it was learnt.
A source, who spoke on account of anonymity said: “as at Thursday evening, Lawal could not meet any of the bail conditions. We have decided to obtain an order from a Magistrate’s Court to keep him in custody for 14 days.
“We have already served the court order on Lawal to keep him abreast of why he will remain with us for two weeks.
He further stressed, “we have also received a letter from Lawal’s lawyer to vary the bail conditions. We are studying this latest request which we received on Thursday.”
The source added: “Lawal has been cooperating with our investigators, the ball is in his court to fulfill the terms needed for his bail.
“We are aware that his counsel has given an undertaking to produce him anytime he is wanted for interrogation.”
The source, however, said ICPC will not vacate the watch list request it has sent to the Department of State Service(DSS) and the Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS).
A letter to the DSS and the NIS highlighted that “the above mentioned person (Lawal Shakiru Olujimi Adebisi) who hails from Ogun State and speaks Yoruba and English fluently, is being investigated for the offence of criminal conspiracy”.