Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s aide, Olajimi Shakiru Adebisi Lawal, appeared in court alongside three others on Monday over alleged fraudulent estacode payments and abuse of public office during their time in service.

Lawal and the three others appeared before Honourable Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division. The case was filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The ICPC, in a statement, revealed that the trial commenced on Monday. According to the ICPC, the prosecution produced three witnesses: Aisha Dikko Kalil, Mrs. Bariyatu Yusuf, and Samuel Aruwan to aid its case. All three of them are former senior officials of the Kaduna State Government.

“While taking the stand, Mrs. Kalil, who served as Attorney-General of Kaduna State (2019–2023), testified that all tuition fees for the foreign trainings she attended were paid directly by the state government to the respective institutions. She, however, added that estacode allowances were paid into her personal Guaranty Trust Bank account,” the ICPC noted.

The former Attorney-General confirmed receiving over ₦5m in estacode payments. She added that she never received any such payment from Lawal. She provided documents, including her account statement, approvals for foreign training, and certificates to support her claims in court.

Yusuf, who was the Head of Service of Kaduna State, in her testimony, noted that course fees and flight tickets were funded by the Ministry of Finance, while estacode payments were sent to her personal account. Yusuf did not deny knowing Lawal but denied ever receiving funds from him.

Aruwan, who served as the Spokesperson and later Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, in his testimony, disclosed that although he was professionally acquainted with Lawal, he neither received estacode allowances from him nor from the state government.

The judge, however, adjourned the case to September 24, 2025, for ruling and continuation of the hearing.