A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declared a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Adamu Aliyu, wanted over an alleged ₦73.6 million fraudulent Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) contract.

 

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) told the court that Aliyu had repeatedly ignored its summons and was allegedly planning to flee the country.

 

According to court filings, businessman Mohammed Jidda petitioned the ICPC, alleging that Aliyu promised to help him secure an ₦850 million TETFund contract at the University of Jos, with a signed Memorandum of Understanding. Jidda claimed he paid ₦73.6 million upfront, including ₦52 million reportedly meant for Imanal Concept Ltd, owned by one Saad Abubakar, who allegedly facilitated the fake deal.

 

Investigators revealed that Jidda was issued a forged contract award letter for a ₦500 million indoor sports hall project and was instructed to pay the funds into Aliyu’s personal GTBank account and Imanal Concept’s Zenith Bank account. The ICPC said ₦47.8 million was traced to Aliyu’s account, ₦22.4 million to Imanal Concept, and ₦3.2 million directly to Aliyu.

 

The University of Jos later confirmed that it never awarded such a contract and that the purported letter was forged.

 

Justice Nwite authorised the ICPC to publish Aliyu’s name in national dailies and on social media, empowering security agencies and private citizens to arrest him to face a 32-count charge bordering on fraud, forgery and diversion of funds.

 

Aliyu, however, denied any wrongdoing, claiming he has refunded ₦45 million to Jidda’s company, Mohiba Investment Ltd, and insisting the matter is a civil dispute over consultancy services, not a criminal case. He further denied forging the contract letter, saying his role was limited to delivering it, and maintained that his lawyers have notified the ICPC that the case is already before a civil court.