El-Rufai’s Adviser, Lawal in 11 billion project scandal, placed on watch-list by DSS, Immigration

The former Special Adviser to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Jimi Lawal has been placed under watchlist by the Department of Security Service and the Nigerian Immigration Service due to his failure to honour invitation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

Lawal was summoned by the anti-graft agency for questioning over alleged phoney Light Rail Project valued at N11 billion, but declined invitation and went into hiding.

The two service agencies are to look out for him at airports, seaports, and land borders for arrest so that he will not sneak out of the country.

A copy of the letter to DSS and NIS reads: “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.

“Credible information at the commission’s disposal suggests that the suspect, who is under investigation, is most likely to flee the country to evade being prosecuted.

“You are therefore, kindly requested to place him on the watch-list and arrest him if seen in any of the airports, seaports or land border and inform this commission accordingly.”

The ICPC is investigating Lawal for alleged criminal conspiracy and loans obtained without due process.

Lawal, an aide to the former governor Nasir El-Rufai has the sum of N144 million in his Bank account from four companies which was discovered by the ICPC in the course of its investigations.

Twenty top officials and a company’s Managing Director have also been invited for questioning over $350 million loans meant for school rehabilitation and infrastructure projects.

The ICPC’s probe is part of an ongoing investigation into the administration of El-Rufai.