An FCT High Court in Abuja has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi on a fresh 22-count charge encompassing allegations of forgery, impersonation, and related offences. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) brought the charges following Adeyemi's purported involvement as the director-general of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). Adeyemi entered a plea of not guilty to all counts.

This renewed legal action follows the Federal High Court's decision on October 12 to strike out an initial eight-count charge. The termination occurred after the Federal Government reviewed the case under the direction of the Attorney-General of the Federation. Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, explained that the jurisdictional review determined the case rightfully belonged in the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.

Key Allegations and Forgery Charges

According to the ICPC, the defendant orchestrated an elaborate scheme using falsified credentials to present a fake government entity as an official institution, enabling him to infiltrate government facilities and processes between 2024 and 2026. Specific elements of the prosecution's case include:

• Forged Appointments and Orders: The creation of a March 8, 2024, letter purportedly signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, naming Adeyemi as the PFIPC director-general, alongside fabricated executive orders and legislative instruments.

• Financial and Administrative Fraud: Forged documents submitted to the Accountant-General of the Federation to integrate the fake agency into financial reporting systems, and applications to the National Information Technology Development Agency for a dedicated domain name.

• Funding Requests: Submitting falsified paperwork to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to secure over 27 billion naira for agency establishment and 3.8 billion naira for personnel costs.

• Bribery and Inducements: Allegations that Adeyemi paid 210,000 naira to an assistant chief technical officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to secure unauthorized office space, and 300,000 naira to an official in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to secure the release of a Prado SUV and a Land Cruiser.

• Obtaining Money by False Pretenses: Securing 20 million naira from the managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited under the guise of a project loan for a 2.8 billion naira official residence renovation contract.

While Adeyemi maintains his innocence and has leveled separate claims regarding a monetary exchange involving Gbajabiamila—assertions that are not part of the formal court charges—the prosecution maintains that his actions violate the Penal Code, the Advance Fee Fraud Act, and the Corrupt Practices Act.

Bail Proceedings and Next Steps

Following the defendant's plea, ICPC counsel Fatima Bardi requested a trial date. Although defense counsel Ibrahim Angulu initially made an oral application for bail, presiding Judge Halilu Yusuf instructed the defense to submit a formal written application.

Angulu highlighted his client's health concerns and prolonged detention of 155 days backed by a police clinic medical report. Justice Yusuf adjourned the matter to November 9 to commence the trial and address the forthcoming bail application.