ICPC launches investigation into another alleged fraud case against embattled Plateau lawmaker, Aliyu

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, says it has launched another investigation into a fresh case of fraud against embattled Plateau lawmaker, Adamu Aliyu, who was recently declared wanted by a federal court.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on September 12, declared Aliyu, who represents Jos North Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, wanted over an alleged fraudulent N73.6 million Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) contract.

The lawmaker landed in trouble after a businessman, Mohammed Jidda, petitioned the ICPC, alleging that Aliyu had promised to help him secure an N850 million TETFund contract at the University of Jos, with a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Jidda also claimed that he paid the lawmaker the sum of N73.6 million upfront, including N52 million meant for Imanal Concept Ltd, owned by one Saad Abubakar, who facilitated the said fake contract.

While the case is still generating controversies following Aliyu’s denial of his involvement in the fraudulent act, the agency says it has commenced another probe into a new allegation by a Jos-based businessman who accused the legislator of conniving with one Hassan Maimadara, a former local government secretary, to defraud him of N75.8 million in a fake land deal.

According to the ICPC, the fresh probe was launched following a petition filed by a Jos-based businessman, Abdulyekin Kabiru, the CEO of Reedlim Global Enterprises, alleging that Aliyu and his accomplice fraudulently deceived him into paying the said sum for a piece of land belonging to the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB).

In the new petition filed by AB Adihene & Co. on behalf of Kabiru, the businessman said Hon. Aliyu and Maimadara approached him, claiming they had the authority of the Plateau State government to sell the land located at Gangare area in Jos, without revealing to him that the land belonged to the government agency.

Kabiru stated that Aliyu had allegedly presented himself as the Chairman of the House Committee on Housing, while his accomplice presented himself as a former secretary of Jos North Local Government and a current aide to the lawmaker. Trusting their alleged positions, he agreed to buy the property for N50 million.

He said the deal took a new dimension after Hon. Aliyu and Maimadara came up with different schemes including inducements, threats, forged documents, and multiple cash and bank transfers, to make him part with more money, which ran into N75.84 million.

The complainant stated that he was pressured and forced into paying much more than the agreed N50 million and was coerced into transferring funds in tranches into accounts linked to Maimadara’s company, Hassan & Sons Multi-Biz Dimensions Ltd, and to Aliyu’s personal account, as well as buying the lawmaker mobile phones worth N172,000.

The complainant added that when it dawned on him that the transaction was fraudulent and he had been scammed, he demanded a refund from the lawmaker, who dismissed him and even issued threats to his life.

Efforts to get Hon. Aliyu to comment on the new allegations before going to press were futile as he refused to pick his calls or reply to messages sent to him.