Former Chairman of the Kaduna State Economic Development Council, Mr Jimi Lawal, on Tuesday, refuted media reports that he has been put on the watchlist of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for allegedly failing to honour an earlier invitation from the anti-graft Agency.
Lawal, who served under the administration of the immediate past governor Ahmed El-Rufai, said he only got an invitation to appear before the Commission on Wednesday (Tomorrow).
The former gubernatorial aspirant in Ogun State explained in a statement signed by Austin Oniyokor of the Media Office of Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal, that he was rescheduled for Wednesday by an official of the ICPC due to the recent 10-day nationwide #EndBadGovernance hunger protests.
Lawal, however, added that it was clear that the so-called investigation is malicious and politically-motivated by the orchestrated media reports to impugn his character and reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public.
The full text of the statement reads as follows:
LAWAL REFUTES MEDIA REPORTS OVER ICPC’S INVITATION…SAYS I’VE NOTHING TO HIDE
The attention of the media office of Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal (JAL), former Senior Counsellor and Chairman, Kaduna State Economic Development Council (2015 – 2022), has been drawn to a malicious report credited to The Nation newspaper and feasted on by some online platforms that he is being watchlisted because he failed to honour an invitation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over an alleged N11 billion light rail project.
We wish to state that nothing could be farther from the truth. The facts of the matter are as stated presently.
On the 1st of August, 2024, Lawal missed a call from an unknown number. As a highly courteous and responsible citizen, when he called the line back, the person at the other end identified himself as an ICPC official and that he had an invitation letter dated 1st August , 2024, for him to appear at Headquarters of the commission the next day. Recall that that was the week the #Endbadgovernanceprotest commenced.
He (Lawal) drew the attention of the ICPC official to this notorious fact and asked for a rescheduling till after the protest; a request which the official consented to.
On Monday, 12th August, 2024, Lawal on his own volition called the official to ask for the new date since the protest was over. The official said he would check their schedule and get back to him. At about midnight on Monday, 12th August, 2024, the official sent the soft copy of the invitation dated 12th August, 2024, to him.
The letter, entitled ‘RE-INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES’ with Reference No. ICPC/HC/STF/KD/069/2024, was signed by ICPC’s Acting Director of Operations, S. Yahaya.
It reads, “Reference to our letter No. ICPC/HC/STF/KD/069/2024 dated 1st August, 2024.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 (1) (a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and your request to reschedule the interview to a later date due to the nationwide protest. Accordingly, the interview has been rescheduled to Wednesday, 14th August, 2024 at 1000 Hours…”
Tomorrow is Wednesday, 14th August, 2024. So, how can someone who got a letter of invitation at about midnight on Monday, 12th August, 2024, asking him to report on Wednesday, 14th August, 2024, be said to have absconded? Why watchlist someone who called you to ask for an appointment since he has nothing to hide?
It is clear from the foregoing facts that this so-called investigation is malicious and politically-motivated. It is the reason orchestrated media reports are being churned out to smear Lawal’s image in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public even before he is heard. Otherwise, how does N144 million allegedly traced to his account from some private companies translate to N11 billion?
As a Senior Counsellor and Chairman, Kaduna State Economic Development Council, Lawal had no budget and authority to approve contracts. So, all the noise about N11 billion light rail project is nothing but hot air. No matter how fast and far lies go, the truth will catch up with it. Our faith in the country and the judiciary remains unshaken. We sure will have our day at the appropriate time and fora.
Signed
Austin Oniyokor
Media Office of Chief Jimi Adebisi Lawal
Abeokuta, Ogun State.
13th August, 2024.
