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Court Declares Lawmaker Wanted Over Alleged ₦73.6 Million Fraud

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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.

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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.

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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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Crime

EFCC busts Chinese-linked illegal refinery in Ogun

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

The commission said the facility was discovered on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 following intelligence and surveillance on the activities of illegal sludge oil refiners.

The EFCC disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

Oyewale said the facility was deserted when operatives stormed the premises, following an earlier crackdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area.

However, he said operatives discovered waste products from the refining process and underground tanks suspected to have been used for heating and processing sludge oil.

The statement read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission uncovered an illegal oil refinery operated by Chinese in the Ogere area of Ogun State.

“The operation, conducted on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, followed credible intelligence and surveillance by the commission on the activities of the illegal sludge oil refiners.

“The refinery was found deserted when EFCC operatives stormed the premises, following the commission’s earlier clampdown on four illegal lithium processing plants in the area. However, waste products from the refining process were discovered at the location.”

Oyewale said during the raid, underground tanks believed to have been used for heating and processing the sludge oil were also discovered.

“Two of the underground tanks inspected contained substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), otherwise known as diesel.

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“Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators sourced sludge oil, also known as black sludge, from Warri, Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and transported it to the illegal facility in Ogere for processing,” Oyewale added.

He said the operators subjected the sludge oil to intense heat, allowing lighter petroleum components to pass through chambers and filters in a process believed to produce diesel for sale in the Nigerian market.

“Personnel at the facility told EFCC operatives that the Chinese operators never disclosed their identities nor the name of the company behind the facility.

“Consequently, operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC have since taken over the premises as investigations continue to establish the identities of the operators, the ownership of the facility and the full extent of the suspected illegal activities and economic sabotage,” he added.

Source: punchng.com

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Crime

Oyo boxer, KBlaq stabbed to death during street fight

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An amateur boxer identified simply as Kehinde and popularly known as KBlaq has been stabbed to death during a street fight at Olodo Garage in Ibadan, Oyo State.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday that the incident occurred on Sunday, sparking outrage among social media users, who called for justice for the deceased.

According to accounts circulating online, the deceased was not initially involved in the fight, while the suspect allegedly appeared after the confrontation had ended and stabbed him in the neck with a broken bottle.

Kehinde, who was described by acquaintances as a boxer, reportedly succumbed to his injuries.

Several social media users expressed shock over the killing, with some claiming that the suspect was not among those involved in the initial fight.

An X user, @MVKAY2, wrote, “The person who stabbed him was not even involved in the fight, and they had stopped fighting already. Just one of those vile men wey the matter no concern came from nowhere and stabbed him.

“Before una start dropping different narratives, I wish he was with Z second. I wish he was never there.”

Another user, @omononaolapo, wrote, “Funny enough, this guy that stabbed him was not even among those that they were fighting.”

Similarly, @Tunde, who described the deceased as his brother, wrote, “Na my brother o. Ajeh. Olodo bike men can be very mean sometimes, and they were all there watching them fight.”

Another user, @Fela, added, “This was why I made this tweet earlier today. This boxer is my younger brother’s friend. I got to church yesterday and my brother told me someone killed his friend. I was shocked when he told me.”

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Also, @Pelumifundz, who described Kehinde as the younger brother of a friend, wrote, “This guy is a twin and my friend’s junior brother. He’s so gentle and doesn’t cause trouble. I would really love to know what happened that made the bikeman stab him in the neck. Anyways, rest in peace, Kenny. I know you won’t go without having justice. We will definitely get it for you.”

Confirming the incident on Monday, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, told our correspondent during a telephone interview that an investigation was ongoing.

Source: punchng.com

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Crime

Terrorists abduct 14 Islamic school students in Niger

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Suspected terrorists have abducted 14 students in a Niger State Islamic school.

The incident reportedly happened on Saturday in Pandogari in Rafi Local Government Area.

The PUNCH learnt that the students were abducted while harvesting maize in their teacher’s farm when the terrorists invaded the farm.

The teacher was also reportedly kidnapped during the incident.

The spokesman of the Niger State police command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying that the number of abducted students was 14 and not 50 as reported.

He also said a joint security mission was on a rescue mission, assuring that the abducted students would be rescued.

“On 31/10/2026 at about 12.30 pm, suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village via Rafi LGA and abducted some persons working on the farm.

“The report further indicated that the abducted victims were about 14 students of an Islamiya helping their Mallam to harvest maize on the farm before the incident.

“However, joint security rescue efforts are ongoing; further developments will be communicated,” he said.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Jonathan Vatsa, speaking on the incident, condemned Governor Mohammed Bago over his handling of the security situation in the state.

He lamented that the governor was busy with electioneering and had failed to protect lives and property.

“The security agencies in the state lack operational vehicles and other necessary equipment to confront the situation.

“The government is only there to issue statements either condemning every attack or condole with the people over the death of their loved ones without any cogent step to address the situation,” Vatsa said.

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Source: punchng.com

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