The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi on 22 counts bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences before the FCT High Court in Abuja.
Adeyemi, who is accused of falsely presenting himself as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), pleaded not guilty to all the charges on Thursday.
The fresh arraignment followed the striking out of an earlier eight-count charge by a Federal High Court in Abuja on October 12, after the Federal Government discontinued the proceedings following a review by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, had informed the court that the review established that the alleged offences fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court, where the initial charge was filed.
The ICPC subsequently filed a fresh 22-count charge before the FCT High Court.
In the charge, the commission alleged that Adeyemi forged a letter dated March 8, 2024, purportedly signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, appointing him as director-general of the council.
The anti-corruption agency further accused him of using allegedly forged documents to portray PFIPC as a legitimate government institution and gain access to government facilities and official processes.
Other allegations involve documents purportedly establishing the council, an executive order, legislative instruments bearing the titles of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and PFIPC, and a letter addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation seeking recognition within the government’s financial reporting structure.
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The commission also alleged that Adeyemi submitted documents to the National Information Technology Development Agency to obtain a domain name for the purported council.
In another count, the ICPC accused Adeyemi of presenting documents to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to request more than ₦27 billion for the establishment of the purported agency and ₦3.8 billion for personnel expenses.
The commission further alleged that he gave ₦210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an assistant chief technical officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to facilitate the allocation of office space without official authorisation.
He was also accused of giving ₦300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of a Prado sport utility vehicle and a Land Cruiser.
Additionally, the ICPC alleged that Adeyemi obtained ₦20 million from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretence of a project facilitation loan relating to a purported ₦2.8 billion contract for furnishing and renovating the official residence of the PFIPC director-general.
The alleged offences reportedly occurred between 2024 and 2026 and are punishable under relevant provisions of the Penal Code, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
Adeyemi has denied the allegations. He has also separately alleged that Gbajabiamila collected ₦400 million through a proxy in connection with the purported appointment letter. The claim remains an allegation by Adeyemi and is separate from the charges before the court.
Following the defendant’s plea, ICPC counsel, Fatima Bardi, asked the court to fix a date for trial.
Defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, made an oral application for bail, but the presiding judge, Halilu Yusuf, directed him to file a formal written application.
Angulu agreed and requested an early hearing, citing his client’s prolonged detention and health concerns.
He told the court that Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had a medical report from the police clinic where he received treatment.
The judge adjourned the case until November 9 for trial and possible consideration of the bail application.
