Court declares serving APC lawmaker wanted
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Adamu Aliyu, a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly.
According to Premium Times, Aliyu was also declared wanted over allegations that he defrauded a businessman through a fake Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) contract worth millions of naira.
The order was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) approached the court, saying the lawmaker ignored repeated invitations to respond to the case.
The case started with a petition from businessman Mohammed Jidda, who accused Aliyu of promising to help him secure an N850 million TETFund contract at the University of Jos.
As part of the arrangement, Jidda reportedly paid N73.6 million to accounts linked to Aliyu and a company, Imanal Concept Ltd, after receiving a document presented as a contract award letter.
When Jidda went to the university to start documentation, he discovered that the contract did not exist.
The institution later confirmed to the ICPC that the letter was forged.
Investigators traced the funds and found payments into Aliyu’s personal and company-linked accounts.
The anti-graft agency told the court that Aliyu had received messages about its invitation, even acknowledging them on WhatsApp, but refused to appear for questioning.
It also informed the court that intelligence reports suggested he was planning to flee the country.
Justice Nwite granted the request, authorising the ICPC to declare Aliyu wanted through newspapers, social media, and other platforms.
The ruling also permits law enforcement agencies and private citizens to arrest him and hand him over to the commission.
Aliyu, however, denied the allegations, insisting he refunded part of the money and had no hand in the forged contract letter, which he claimed was produced by another party.
His lawyers also argued that the matter was already before a civil court.
Despite his defence, court filings show the lawmaker is under investigation for corruption, forgery, cheating, abuse of office, and related offences.
