The Plateau Democratic Movement (PDM) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate alleged abuse of office in the removal of Mr Amos Azi as Chairman of the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST). The petition, signed by the group’s Chairman, Ishaya Turba, and Secretary, Iliya Mangai, was addressed to the ICPC’s chairman.
According to the PDM, Azi was duly appointed by President Bola Tinubu, while Aminu Junaidu allegedly got the directive to take over the position from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The group questioned the sudden coming in of Junaidu as IST Chairman shortly after Azi secured a second tenure.
The PDM also copied the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the SGF, the Minister of Finance, Senate Committee on Capital Market, EFCC, and Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. The group said it was moved to write the petition following ICPC’s recent uncovering of fictitious agencies operating under the office of the SGF.
The development at the IST, a statutory body for resolving capital market disputes, has generated public concerns. The group argued that Azi was appointed by the presidency, while Junaidu claimed to have been appointed by the office of the SGF. The PDM believes the issue of fake appointment and fake agencies is related to what recently happened at the IST.
The group said its concern was borne out of the conviction that the IST, with a mandate to resolve capital market disputes, must be headed and administered strictly in accordance with its enabling law. Any irregularity concerning its leadership has the potential to undermine public confidence, the rule of law, and confidence in Nigeria’s capital-market regulatory framework.
The PDM urged the commission to investigate how Junaidu assumed the office on Oct. 2, 2025, under alleged controversial circumstances. This development immediately raised serious concerns because the statutory framework governing the appointment of the chairman of the tribunal is specifically prescribed in the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025.
It would be recalled that Azi was first appointed as IST boss on July 17, 2020, and reappointed on Aug.13, 2025, by the president. The ICPC is expected to look into the matter and determine if there was indeed an abuse of office in the removal of Azi as IST Chairman.
Key points
- The Plateau Democratic Movement petitions ICPC over alleged abuse of office in the removal of Mr Amos Azi as IST Chairman.
- Azi was duly appointed by President Bola Tinubu, while Junaidu allegedly got the directive to take over the position from the office of the SGF.
- The ICPC is expected to investigate how Junaidu assumed the office on Oct. 2, 2025, under alleged controversial circumstances.
