Court Orders Arrest Of Plateau Lawmaker Over Alleged ₦73.6 Million Contract Scam
A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared Plateau State lawmaker, Adamu Aliyu, wanted over allegations that he duped a businessman of ₦73.6 million through a fake Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) contract. The order was issued on Friday by Justice Emeka Nwite, following an application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Alleged fraudulent deal
The case arose from a petition by businessman Mohammed Jidda, who claimed that Mr. Aliyu, representing Jos North-North constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, lured him into a deal to secure an ₦850 million TETFund contract at the University of Jos.
According to court documents, both men signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) stating that Mr. Jidda would advance ₦73.6 million once a contract award letter was issued, with a further ₦52 million to be paid to Imanal Concept Ltd, a company owned by one Saad Abubakar, described as the “facilitator.”
Mr. Aliyu allegedly handed Mr. Jidda a forged contract award letter purportedly from the University of Jos for the construction of an indoor sports hall worth ₦500 million. Believing it to be genuine, the businessman transferred ₦47.8 million into the lawmaker’s personal Guaranty Trust Bank account, ₦22.4 million into Imanal Concept Ltd’s Zenith Bank account, and an additional ₦3.2 million directly to the lawmaker.
The scam unraveled when Mr. Jidda attempted to formalize the contract at the university and was informed that no such project existed. The university later confirmed in writing that the contract letter was a forgery.
ICPC investigation and court application
The ICPC opened an investigation, obtaining bank statements that confirmed the flow of funds into Mr. Aliyu’s personal and affiliated accounts. Investigators said the lawmaker ignored multiple invitations delivered through the Clerk of the Plateau Assembly and even acknowledged receipt of one message sent via WhatsApp, yet failed to appear.
The commission told the court it had intelligence suggesting that the lawmaker was planning to abandon his legislative duties and flee the country. Consequently, it sought judicial approval to declare him wanted in newspapers, on social media, and across other platforms. It also asked for an arrest warrant authorizing the ICPC, police, and even private citizens to apprehend him and hand him over for questioning.
Justice Nwite granted the request, issuing an arrest warrant and permitting the ICPC to publish a “wanted person” notice. The ruling empowers law enforcement agencies, including INTERPOL if necessary, to track down and arrest Mr. Aliyu.
Lawmaker’s defence
When contacted, Mr. Aliyu denied the allegations. Speaking from Saudi Arabia, he claimed he was unaware of the ICPC summons until informed by the Plateau Assembly Clerk. He further insisted that he had already refunded ₦45 million of the funds through transfers to Mohiba Investment Ltd, the businessman’s company, providing receipts of transactions in tranches of ₦5 million, ₦10 million, ₦10 million, and ₦20 million.
He also distanced himself from the forged contract letter, blaming Mr. Abubakar of Imanal Concept Ltd for producing it. According to him, his role was only to deliver the letter to Mr. Jidda.
Through his lawyers, Adams & Co Firstlog Chambers, Mr. Aliyu argued that the matter was a civil dispute over consultancy services, not a criminal case. The lawyers claimed it was already before another court, though they did not provide details of the case or the presiding judge.
Wider implications
Court filings, however, show that Mr. Aliyu is under investigation for corruption, forgery, cheating, abuse of office, and related offences. The ICPC stressed that while it cannot constitutionally declare a suspect wanted on its own, the judicial authorisation now allows it to escalate the matter nationally and internationally if required.
With the order in force, Nigerians should expect to see Mr. Aliyu’s “wanted” notice published in the coming days, while security agencies intensify efforts to locate him. If he is apprehended, he will face questioning and possible prosecution, marking another high-profile test of Nigeria’s anti-graft drive.
The case has sparked debate about corruption within legislative circles, with critics warning that such scams erode public trust in governance and compromise oversight of public funds. For Mr. Jidda, however, the matter remains personal — a multimillion-naira investment tied up in a contract that never existed, and a long legal battle to recover his losses.
