Nigerian Lawmaker Declared Wanted for Fraud Surrenders to ICPC

Nigerian lawmaker Adamu Aliyu, representing Jos North-North constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, has surrendered to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after being declared wanted over alleged fraud.

Aliyu turned himself in at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, September 15, following an order by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court. The judge had declared him wanted after investigators reported that he ignored multiple invitations to answer questions on fraud allegations.

The case stems from a petition filed by businessman Mohammed Jidda, who accused Aliyu of defrauding him under the pretense of securing a Tertiary Education Trust Fund contract at the University of Jos worth N850 million. According to the petition, Aliyu signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jidda, requiring a payment of N73.6 million if the contract was awarded, including N52 million to be paid to a company, Imanal Concept Ltd, as facilitation fee.

Investigators said Aliyu later presented Jidda with a forged contract award letter for the construction of an indoor sports hall valued at N500 million. Believing the document to be genuine, Jidda transferred the agreed sum into accounts linked to the lawmaker. Bank records obtained by the ICPC show N47.8 million was paid into Aliyu’s personal account, N22.4 million went to Imanal Concept Ltd, and N3.2 million was transferred directly to him.

When Jidda approached the University of Jos to commence documentation, the institution denied issuing such a contract and later confirmed in writing that the award letter was forged. Despite repeated invitations—some sent through the Clerk of the Plateau Assembly and even via WhatsApp—Aliyu allegedly failed to appear before the ICPC, prompting the court to declare him wanted. The commission also told the court it had credible intelligence that the lawmaker was planning to flee the country.