A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Adamu Aliyu, wanted over allegations that he defrauded a businessman of ₦73.6 million through a fake Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) contract.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Friday after considering an application brought before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to court filings, the case began with a petition from businessman Mohammed Jidda, who alleged that Aliyu, representing Jos North-North constituency, promised to help him secure an ₦850m TETFund contract at the University of Jos.

Aliyu allegedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jidda, under which the petitioner agreed to pay ₦73.6m upfront once a contract award letter was issued. Another ₦52 million was to be paid to Imanal Concept Ltd, a company owned by Saad Abubakar, who was reportedly the facilitator of the deal.

Investigators said Aliyu later handed Jidda a purported contract award letter for the construction of an indoor sports hall under a TETFund project valued at ₦500m.

On the strength of the letter, Aliyu reportedly provided two bank accounts, his personal Guaranty Trust Bank account and Imanal Concept Ltd’s Zenith Bank account, for payment.

ICPC said Jidda deposited a total of ₦73.6m into the accounts. Bank records allegedly confirmed that ₦47.8m went into Aliyu’s GTBank account, ₦22.4m into Imanal Concept’s account, and another ₦3.2m directly to Aliyu.

However, when Jidda approached the University of Jos to begin the documentation process, the institution denied knowledge of the contract. It later confirmed in writing to ICPC that the award letter was a forgery.

Lawmaker Shuns ICPC Invitations

The ICPC told the court that Aliyu repeatedly ignored invitations to explain his role in the alleged fraud, despite being contacted through the Clerk of the Plateau State Assembly and his WhatsApp number, where he acknowledged receipt of the messages.

Investigators also claimed they had credible intelligence suggesting the lawmaker was planning to abandon his legislative duties and flee the country to evade prosecution.

Justice Nwite subsequently granted ICPC’s request and declared Aliyu wanted. The judge directed security agencies to arrest him and produce him in court to face a 32-count charge bordering on fraud, forgery, and diversion of funds.

Faced with his alleged refusal to honour lawful invitations, the ICPC approached the court for an order to permit it to “declare the lawmaker wanted in any national newspaper, social media platforms and other media, for failing to honour the Commission’s invitations for investigation activities.”

The commission also urged the court to issue a bench/arrest warrant, directing operatives of the ICPC and other law enforcement agents, including private persons, to identify and arrest Mr Aliyu and hand him over to the ICPC for investigation.

On Friday, Justice Nwite granted the ICPC request, issuing an arrest warrant and authorising the commission to publish a “wanted person” notice for Mr Aliyu in national newspapers and on social media.

The court ruling also empowered law enforcement agents, including the police and private citizens, to arrest him and hand him over to the commission.

When Premium Times contacted Aliyu on Friday evening, he denied the allegations. He said he was not aware of the ICPC’s invitation, saying he only learned of it through the Clerk of the Plateau Assembly while he was in Saudi Arabia.

He also denied defrauding Mr Jidda, insisting he has since refunded ₦45 million that entered his account through the businessman’s company, Mohiba Investment Limited. Payment receipts obtained by this newspaper show that he transferred ₦5 million, ₦10 million, ₦10 million, and ₦20 million in separate transactions to a Zenith Bank account belonging to Mohiba Investment Ltd.

The lawmaker also denied issuing the forged contract award letter, claiming Mr Abubakar obtained it. Mr Aliyu said his role was limited to delivering the letter to Mr Jidda.

On 8 September, Mr Aliyu’s lawyers, Adams & Co Firstlog Chambers, wrote to the ICPC arguing that the matter was already before a civil court, describing it as a dispute over “consultancy services/facilitation of contract award” rather than a criminal matter.

Despite the defence, court filings show that the lawmaker is under investigation for corruption, forgery, cheating, abuse of office and related offences.

The ICPC argued that because it lacks constitutional powers to declare a person wanted without court approval, it had to seek judicial authorisation.

The commission also noted that the warrant would allow it to enlist the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) should the lawmaker attempt to escape abroad.

With the order in place, the ICPC is expected to issue a formal public notice declaring the lawmaker wanted in the coming days.

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