A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared Plateau State House of Assembly member Adamu Aliyu wanted for allegedly defrauding a businessman of ₦73.6 million through a forged Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) contract, following his repeated failure to respond to invitations from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

According to Premium Times, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the ICPC's application on Friday, issuing an arrest warrant and authorizing the agency to publish a "wanted" notice in national newspapers and on social media. The order empowers law enforcement and even private citizens to apprehend Aliyu, representing Jos North-North on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, and hand him over for questioning.

The case stems from a petition by businessman Mohammed Jidda, who accused Aliyu of promising to secure an ₦850 million TETFund contract at the University of Jos for an indoor sports hall. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Jidda agreed to pay ₦73.6 million upfront upon receiving an award letter, plus ₦52 million facilitation fee to Imanal Concept Ltd, owned by Saad Abubakar, whom Aliyu presented as the contract facilitator.

Jidda received what Aliyu claimed was the award letter for a ₦500 million project, leading him to transfer the funds to Aliyu's Guaranty Trust Bank personal account and Imanal Concept's Zenith Bank account: ₦47.8 million to Aliyu personally, ₦22.4 million to the company, and ₦3.2 million directly to Aliyu.

However, the University of Jos denied the contract's existence and confirmed the letter's forgery in writing to the ICPC. ICPC investigators invited Aliyu via the Plateau Assembly Clerk and WhatsApp—he acknowledged receipt but did not appear—citing credible intelligence of his potential flight abroad. The agency sought court approval to declare him wanted, as it lacks unilateral power, and to involve INTERPOL if needed.

Contacted Friday, Aliyu denied the fraud, claiming ignorance of ICPC summons until informed by the Assembly Clerk while in Saudi Arabia. He asserted refunding ₦45 million to Jidda's Mohiba Investment Ltd via four transfers (₦5m, ₦10m, ₦10m, ₦20m), receipts of which were reviewed, and denied issuing the forged letter—blaming Abubakar—while limiting his role to delivery.

His lawyers, from Adams & Co Firstlog Chambers, wrote to ICPC on September 8, arguing the matter is a civil dispute over "consultancy services" before another court, though details were not provided. Aliyu faces probes for corruption, forgery, cheating, and abuse of office.