Ex-Lawmaker Hon. Onadeko Convicted in ₦68.7m Fraud Case

ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Hon. Onamusi Onadeko, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, ending an eight-year legal battle over a ₦68.7 million constituency project fraud.

Hon. Onadeko, who represented the Ogun East Federal Constituency from 1999 to 2003, was convicted on Thursday, 30th July, 2026, by Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

The Charges and Conflict of Interest

The ICPC initially dragged Onadeko to court in 2017. In an 11-count amended charge, the anti-graft agency accused the former lawmaker of abuse of office and conflict of interest.

The prosecution proved that while serving as a Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) to the late Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East, 2015–2019), Onadeko used his private companies—Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines Limited—to execute lucrative constituency contracts.

The multi-million naira projects included:

• Purchasing ambulance vehicles
• ⁠Supplying hospital equipment and drugs to Primary Health Centres
• ⁠Constructing classrooms across six communities in the Ogun East Senatorial District

Investigations revealed that Onadeko served as the Managing Director of Stanton Engineering Limited and a nominal Director of Haines and Baines Limited while actively employed as a legislative aide.

The ICPC noted that this directly violated Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Lies and Inconsistent Statements

In addition to the contract fraud, the court found Onadeko guilty on Count 11 for making contradictory statements to investigators.

In a June 2016 affidavit sworn before the Commissioner for Oaths, Onadeko stated he was a Director of Haines and Baines Limited. However, during an official interrogation on 5th May, 2017, he denied being a shareholder or director of the same company. This falsehood violated Section 25(1)(b) of the ICPC Act.

The “Public Officer” Defence Fails

During the trial, defence counsel Wahab Olatoyebi argued that Onadeko could not be prosecuted under the ICPC Act because his role as a legislative aide was a short-term, non-pensionable appointment.

The defence maintained that he did not qualify as a “public officer.” Rejecting the argument, Justice Chizoba Oji cited Onadeko’s official letter of appointment and the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Federal Government of Nigeria v. Farouk Lawan. The judge affirmed that all legislative aides are legally classified as public officers and are fully bound by anti-corruption laws.

Verdict and Judicial Precedent

While Justice Oji discharged and acquitted Onadeko on Counts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, she found him guilty on the core charges and Count 11. Following an allocutus (plea for leniency) by the defence, Justice Oji sentenced the former lawmaker to nine months’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦50,000 fine.

Judgement Implications

Legal experts note that this judgment sets a powerful judicial precedent in Nigeria. It explicitly confirms that Personal Assistants (PAs), Special Assistants (SAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), and Legislative Aides (LAs) who draw salaries or allowances from public funds are public officers.

Consequently, they can be prosecuted for corruption, regardless of whether their contracts are temporary, fixed-term, or non-pensionable.