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 allegations bordering on abuse of office and making inconsistent statements.
Onadeko, who represented Ogun East Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003, was sentenced to nine months jail term by the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday, July 30, 2026, after an eight-year trial.
The ICPC disclosed this in a statement on it’s official website, saying the former lawmaker was convicted on one count of making inconsistent statements, while he was discharged and acquitted on several other counts contained in the amended 11-count charge.
According to the commission, Onadeko was arraigned in 2017 over his alleged involvement in the award and execution of contracts worth N68.7 million while serving as a Senior Legislative Aide to the late Senator Buruji Kashamu, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District from 2015 to 2019.
The ICPC alleged that Onadeko used his private companies, Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines Limited, to execute constituency projects, including the supply of ambulance vehicles, hospital equipment and drugs for primary healthcare centres, as well as the construction of classrooms in selected communities in Ogun East.
The commission said the action violated provisions of Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which prohibit public officers from abusing their positions for personal advantage.
It also accused Onadeko of making contradictory declarations regarding his relationship with Haines and Baines Limited.
The commission said he had earlier declared in an affidavit dated June 30, 2016, that he was a director of the company, but later stated during investigation on May 5, 2017, that he was neither a shareholder nor a director of the firm.
According to ICPC, the action contravened Section 25(1)(b) of the ICPC Act.
During the trial, Onadeko’s counsel, Wahab Olatoyebi, argued that his client was not a public officer because his appointment as a Senior Legislative Aide was temporary, non-pensionable and did not place him under the category of persons liable under Sections 12 and 19 of the ICPC Act.
Delivering judgment, Justice Chizoba Oji of the FCT High Court dismissed the defence argument, ruling that legislative aides are public officers and can be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the law.
The court relied on Onadeko’s letter of appointment and the Supreme Court judgment in Federal Government of Nigeria v. Farouk Lawan in reaching its decision.
Justice Oji convicted Onadeko on Count 11 for making inconsistent statements but discharged and acquitted him on Counts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Following a plea for leniency by his counsel, the court sentenced the former lawmaker to nine months’ imprisonment with an option of a N50,000 fine.
The ICPC said the judgment reaffirmed that political appointees and aides, including Personal Assistants, Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants, Legislative Aides and Senior Legislative Aides, who receive salaries, allowances or other benefits from public funds qualify as public officers under the ICPC Act.
The commission added that the ruling established that such status applies regardless of whether the appointments are temporary, fixed-term or non-pensionable.
