Drama As Fugitive Lawmaker Wanted For Fraud Finally Surrenders To Authorities

A serving member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Adamu Aliyu, is currently being grilled by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of contract fraud.

According to Premium Times, Aliyu, who represents Jos North-North Constituency, surrendered himself at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, days after Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court declared him wanted at the commission’s request.

The order followed investigators’ claims that the lawmaker had repeatedly ignored invitations to answer questions over the fraud allegations.

The case reportedly stemmed from a petition filed by businessman Mohammed Jidda, who accused Aliyu of defrauding him under the guise of securing a Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) contract worth ₦850 million at the University of Jos.

Jidda alleged that Aliyu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with him, agreeing to pay ₦73.6 million if the contract was awarded, including a facilitation fee of ₦52 million to a firm, Imanal Concept Ltd.

Investigators revealed that Aliyu later presented Jidda with a forged contract award letter purportedly issued by the University of Jos for the construction of an indoor sports hall valued at ₦500 million.

Based on the document, Jidda transferred ₦73.6 million into two accounts provided by Aliyu — his personal Guaranty Trust Bank account and Imanal Concept Ltd’s Zenith Bank account.

However, when Jidda approached the University of Jos to begin documentation, the school denied awarding such a contract and later confirmed in writing to the ICPC that the letter was fake.

Bank records reportedly show that ₦47.8 million went into Aliyu’s personal account, ₦22.4 million into Imanal Concept Ltd’s account, and ₦3.2 million directly to the lawmaker.

‘I Refunded ₦45m’ – Aliyu

Despite several invitations — including messages through the Clerk of the Plateau Assembly and his WhatsApp line — Aliyu allegedly failed to appear before investigators until he was declared wanted. The ICPC further told the court it had intelligence suggesting he planned to flee the country.

When contacted, the lawmaker denied the allegations, claiming he only became aware of the ICPC summons after the Assembly Clerk reached him while he was on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

He also maintained that he refunded ₦45 million to Jidda’s company, Mohiba Investment Ltd., providing receipts of four transfers — ₦5 million, ₦10 million, ₦10 million, and ₦20 million — into the firm’s Zenith Bank account.

Aliyu distanced himself from the forgery allegation, blaming an associate who he claimed was the actual facilitator of the contract deal. According to him, he merely relayed the document to Jidda.