Alleged False Asset Declaration: El-Rufai’s ex-aides, Jimi Lawal, Ja’afara, get N20m bail

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has granted bail to two former Kaduna State Government officials, Mr Jimi Lawal and Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani.

The two officials served in the administration of the immediate past Governor of the State, Mr Nasir el-Rufai are Mr Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani as Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources and Mr Jimi Lawal Adebisi, as Senior Adviser and Counsellor to el-Rufai between 2015 and 2023.

They were granted bail of N10 million each by the CCT and sureties with clear identity.

The duo were arraigned at the Tribunal on separate nine-count charges of false asset declaration by omitting and refusing to declare some of their bank accounts, in addition to maintaining bank accounts outside Nigeria, among others.

The three-man tribunal chaired by Mr. Danladi Umar, include two other judges, namely, Hon. Agwadza W. Atedze and Hon. Juliet A. Anobor.

When the charges were read to the two accused persons, they pleaded not guilty, following which their legal counsel pleaded with the tribunal to grant them bail on self-recognition.

The defence counsel told the tribunal that Jimi Lawal was served the notice of his appearance for trial today [Wednesday], while Ja’afaru Sani was said not to be in a stable condition for arraignment in the court as he was recently bereaved.

The prosecution counsel objected to the oral bail request, insisting that a written application ought to have been filed at the Tribunal by lawyers of the defendants.

In his ruling on bail, the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, granted the two former government officials bail in the sum of N10 million each and adjourned hearing of the two cases till January 14 and 15 as well as 20 and 21, 2025 respectively.

The tribunal directed the two defendants to be in court all through the period of their trials.