The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Onamusi Onadeko, over an offence linked to his alleged conduct while serving as a legislative aide.
Onadeko, who represented Ogun East Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003, was prosecuted by the anti-corruption agency over his alleged involvement in the award and execution of contracts worth N68.7m.
The ICPC disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey.
The commission said Onadeko was arraigned in 2017 on an amended 11-count charge over allegations that he used his private companies, Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines Limited, to execute constituency projects while serving as a Senior Legislative Aide to the late Senator Buruji Kashamu, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019.
According to the ICPC, contracts awarded to the companies included the supply of ambulances, hospital equipment and drugs to Primary Health Centres, as well as the construction of classrooms in six communities within the senatorial district.
The commission said Onadeko was the Managing Director of Stanton Engineering Limited and a nominal director of Haines and Baines Limited while serving as a Senior Legislative Aide.
It said such conduct violated Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The ICPC also accused Onadeko of making contradictory statements concerning his position in Haines and Baines Limited.
The commission said he had declared in an affidavit dated June 30, 2016, that he was a director of the company but later told investigators in a statement dated May 5, 2017, that he was neither a shareholder nor director.
The agency said the conduct contravened Section 25(1)(b) of the ICPC Act.
During the trial, which lasted eight years, Onadeko’s counsel, Wahab Olatoyebi, argued that his client was not a public officer because his appointment as a legislative aide was temporary, short-term and non-pensionable.
The defence consequently argued that Onadeko could not be prosecuted under provisions of the law dealing with abuse of office by public officers.
However, delivering judgment on July 30, 2026, Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court rejected the argument.
The court, relying on Onadeko’s letter of appointment and a Supreme Court decision in Federal Government of Nigeria v. Farouk Lawan, held that legislative aides are public officers and can be prosecuted under relevant provisions of the ICPC Act.
The court also found Onadeko guilty on Count 11 for making inconsistent statements but discharged and acquitted him on Counts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Following an allocutus by his lawyer, Justice Oji sentenced Onadeko to nine months in prison with an option of a N50,000 fine.
The ICPC said the judgment affirmed that Personal Assistants, Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants, Legislative Aides and Senior Legislative Aides, among others appointed to public office holders, qualify as public officers under the ICPC Act when they receive salaries, allowances or other emoluments from public funds.
The commission added that such status applies regardless of whether their appointments are temporary, fixed-term or non-pensionable.
(The Whistler)