Plateau lawmaker seeks court to vacate ICPC's arrest order

By Najib Sani, Gombe

Member representing Jos North- North Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Honourable Adamu Aliyu, has asked the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to vacate its earlier order of his arrest granted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over an allegations of contract fraud.

In the application document issued to our correspondent on Friday, the lawmaker told the High Court that the petitioner had misled the ICPC, and the ICPC further misinformed the Court of the materials facts. 

The Federal High Court Abuja had in its ruling of September 12, in suit No: FCH/ABJ/CS/1867/2025, granted order to the ICPC to declare Adamu Aliyu wanted and  arrest him.

However, in a motion on notice through his counsels, M.B. Abdullahi and M.M. Auwal of Munir Barau Abdullahi & Co, Honourable Aliyu urged the court to set aside the previous order on the ground of non-disclosure of material facts to the Court about the entire matter before the ICPC.

One of the attached Exhibits 'F' as part of the 9 paragraphs affidavit to the said motion, Aliyu told the court that he had on September 8th through his lawyer written to the Commission before the said Ex - Parte Motion was filed, explaining that his role was only as resident of Jos, received money on behalf of the job owner by name Lawal Abubakar from the petitioner, on the instructions of the said Lawal Abubakar, who after alleged breach of contract agreement between him and the University of Jos, further instructed him (Aliyu) to refund the petitioner all that was paid to his account which was paid since June 2024.

He argued that the order was obtained without full disclosure of this material facts, adding that the ICPC failed to inform the court that he had already refunded the said ₦45 million as the amount paid on behalf of Lawal Abubakar.

The legislator told the court that Mr  Lawal Abubakar and the University of Jos are already in court with suit No PLD/J11/2024, pending before the Plateau State High Court.

Aliyu further stated that he was not personally served with any invitation, summons or charge, prior to 12th September 2025,  before the commission sought the said Ex-Parte order.

He described the arrest order as unnecessary, stressing that he had on the 15th September 2025, voluntarily presented himself to the ICPC office immediately after learning of the publication on social media platforms and online newspaper.

He expressed concern that the public notice on social media platforms could expose him to harm from overzealous individuals asking the court to consider his request and lift the previous order. 

Aliyu's counsel cited Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as Amended, and further submitted that it was in the interest of justice and fair hearing for the court to vacate the said Ex - Parte Order.