A Federal High Court in Kaduna, Nigeria, has granted bail to Jimi Lawal, a former adviser to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and three others facing charges of alleged fraud. The defendants, including former Kaduna State Accountant General Umar Waziri, Yusuf Inuwa, and Solar Life Nigeria Limited, were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly diverting 64.8 million Nigerian Naira (approximately $170,000 USD).
The ICPC claims the funds were diverted in three separate transactions of 10 million Naira, 47.84 million Naira, and 7.32 million Naira. The court, ruling on the bail application, stipulated that each defendant must provide two sureties, each with 50 million Naira in like sum. The sureties are required to own landed property in Kaduna, with Certificates of Occupancy to be verified by the court.
Additionally, the court ordered the defendants to surrender their international, national, green, and official passports to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Kaduna. Counsel for the defendants, Johnson Usman (SAN), expressed optimism that the bail conditions would be met promptly.
The court has adjourned the case until March 26 and 27, 2025, for trial.