The Federal High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja has ordered the arrest of a former Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Ladi Aisha Hamalai.
Justice C. O. Oba made the order following Hamalai’s alleged repeated failure to appear in the alleged corruption case preferred against her by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to an April 25, 2024 statement by the ICPC’s spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the judge issued the bench warrant on April 22, 2024.
The statement claimed that the ICPC Counsel in the matter Michael Adesola had informed the court that it was the fourth consecutive time the former DG failed to honour the invitation of the Commission to appear in the case despite being properly served.
In the suit marked FCT/HC/CR/312/23, the ICPC is accusing Prof Hamalai of using her office to confer corrupt advantage upon herself by requesting the sum of N12 million to rent a guest house for her office but used the amount to purchase a property for herself in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja.
The Commission, in the four-count charge, also accused the former DG of requesting another sum of N29 million for furnishing the building as a government guest house.
Mr. Adesola told the court that the former DG was served the arraignment notice but was surprised she was not in court.
But Hamalai’s counsel Olayemi Afolayan informed the court that her client was sick, hence the absence.
Justice Oba however ruled that having failed to appear in court, the ICPC should effect the arrest of the former DG and produce her in court at the next adjourned date.
The court adjourned till September 9, 2024.
