Court Convicts Ex-Lawmaker Onadeko in ICPC Case, Declares Legislative Aides Are Public Officers
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Federal Capital Territory High Court has convicted a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Onamusi Onadeko, in a corruption case prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), delivering a landmark judgment that affirms legislative aides and similar political appointees as public officers under the ICPC Act.
The development was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and signed by J. Okor Odey, Head, Media and Public Communications, ICPC.
According to the Commission, Onadeko, who represented Ogun East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003, was arraigned by the ICPC in 2017 over his alleged involvement in the award and execution of a ₦68.7 million constituency project contract while serving as a Senior Legislative Aide to the late Senator Buruji Kashamu, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District from 2015 to 2019.
The anti-graft agency said the former lawmaker faced an 11-count amended charge, alleging that he used his private firms—Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines Limited—to execute constituency projects, including the procurement of ambulance vehicles, supply of drugs and hospital equipment to primary health centres, and construction of classrooms in six communities within Ogun East Senatorial District.
ICPC argued that the arrangement violated Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which prohibit public officers from using their positions for personal benefit.
The Commission also accused Onadeko of making inconsistent statements during investigations by denying his directorship in Haines and Baines Limited after previously affirming the position in an affidavit sworn before the Commissioner for Oaths on June 30, 2016.
During the trial, defence counsel, Wahab Olatoyebi, contended that his client could not be prosecuted under the ICPC Act because his appointment as a legislative aide was temporary and non-pensionable, arguing that he was not a public officer within the meaning of the law.
However, in her judgment delivered on July 30, 2026, Justice Chizoba Oji rejected the defence’s argument, relying on Onadeko’s letter of appointment and the Supreme Court’s decision in Federal Government of Nigeria v. Farouk Lawan.
The court held that legislative aides qualify as public officers and are therefore subject to the provisions of the ICPC Act.
“The court held that legislative aides are public officers and therefore could be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000,” the Commission stated.
Justice Oji found Onadeko guilty on Count 11, relating to making inconsistent statements, but discharged and acquitted him on Counts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Following allocutus by the defence, the court sentenced the former lawmaker to nine months’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦50,000 fine.
ICPC described the judgment as a significant legal milestone, saying it has now firmly established that Personal Assistants (PAs), Special Assistants (SAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), Legislative Aides (LAs), Senior Legislative Aides (SLAs) and similar appointees who receive salaries, allowances or other emoluments from public funds are public officers under the ICPC Act, irrespective of whether their appointments are temporary, fixed-term or non-pensionable.
“This significant judgement has therefore affirmed that Personal Assistants (PAs), Special Assistants (SAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), Legislative Aides (LAs), Senior Legislative Aides (SLAs), and other similar appointees to public office holders, who receive salaries, allowances, or other emoluments from public funds, qualify as public officers within the meaning of the ICPC Act, 2000,” the statement added.
