Former Borno Lawmaker, Associate Finger In ₦23m Contract Fraud, ICPC Investigates

Yakubu Busari

A former member of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Idrisa Jidda, and an associate, Sa’ad Abubakar Isah, have been accused of receiving ₦23 million linked to a contract fraud case involving another Plateau State lawmaker, Adamu Aliyu.

The case is currently under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The allegations emerged from an interview with Mr. Lawal Abubakar, the project owner at the center of the dispute, who is currently ill at his residence in Dutsin-ma, Katsina State.

Abubakar revealed that Hon. Jidda, a former Majority Leader of the Borno State House of Assembly, and now Special Adviser on Housing to Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, is the younger brother of the petitioner, Mohammed Jidda.

According to Abubakar, Hon. Idrisa Jidda received ₦20 million from the Zenith Bank account of Imanal Concept Ltd, a company owned by Sa’ad Abubakar Isah.

This payment is alleged to be part of the disputed contract funds, which have recently also involved the name of Hon. Adamu Aliyu.

Abubakar clarified that he introduced Hon. Adamu Aliyu to the businessman, Mohammed Jiddah.

“I said Jiddah should pay money into Adamu Aliyu’s account,” Abubakar stated. “After the contract was breached, I told Adamu to refund all that was paid to him, which I was told he had done.”

He alleges that Hon. Idrisa Jidda and Sa’ad Abubakar Isah directly approached Mohammad Jidda and collected money from his company, Mohibba Investment Limited, which they then shared.

“They misled Mohammed Jidda by claiming the money was paid to Adamu Aliyu. But on December 29, 2023, Alhaji Idrisa Jidda received ₦20 million credited into his Zenith Bank account from Imanal Concept Ltd. I have the bank receipt to prove this. Both the credited and debited accounts were with Zenith Bank,” Abubakar stated.

He further explained that additional documentary evidence exists of other transactions involving Idrisa Jidda and Sa’ad Abubakar.

“Sa’ad Abubakar Isah, together with Hon. Idrisa Jidda. They collected ₦23 million, which they shared among themselves,” Abubakar said.

He added that, “The petitioner ought to have directed his petition against Hon. Idrisa Jidda and Sa’ad Abubakar, the owner of Imanal Concept Ltd, not Adamu Aliyu.”

Hon Idrisa Jidda has yet to respond to calls at  press time, while Sa’ad Abubakar Isah could not be reached on the phone.