By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the police and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to grant Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, alleged “fake” Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, access to his lawyers.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Thursday while ruling on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Adeyemi, who has been in detention since July over allegations surrounding the controversial council.
The judge, however, declined to order Adeyemi’s release on bail pending the conclusion of investigations into the allegations against him.
Instead, Justice Egwuatu directed Adeyemi to serve copies of the suit on the Inspector-General of Police, the police and the AGF, giving the respondents an opportunity to respond to his claims.
The court ordered the respondents to show cause within 72 hours why the reliefs sought by the applicant should not be granted.
Adeyemi had approached the court through his lawyers, seeking six reliefs, including an order directing the respondents to release him on bail pending the conclusion of investigations.
He also sought access to medical practitioners of his choice and an order restraining the police from interrogating him or obtaining any statement from him without his lawyers present.
Specifically, he asked the court to direct that, “for so long as the applicant remains in custody, the respondents do permit the applicant unimpeded access to legal practitioners of his own choosing at all reasonable hours.”
While the court granted the request for access to legal representation, it declined to grant the other reliefs pending the respondents’ response.
The case was subsequently adjourned until September 9 for the respondents to show cause.
Adeyemi was arrested following a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court on July 14. He was reportedly apprehended at his hideout in Osun State.
Although the Federal Government has yet to charge him before the court over the latest allegations concerning the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeyemi is facing an existing eight-count criminal charge filed by the police on November 27, 2025.
Justice Mohammed Umar had fixed September 30 for Adeyemi to enter his plea in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.
The charges border on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.
Those listed to testify in the case include the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.Other proposed witnesses are civil servants in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Before his arrest, Adeyemi granted an interview to Channels Television from his hideout, claiming that he withdrew from public view because of threats to his life.
He denied hiding to evade law enforcement agencies or investigation into his alleged involvement in the PFIPC controversy.
Adeyemi also maintained his allegation that he paid N400m through a proxy to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to secure his appointment as Director-General of the disputed council.
He claimed that individuals from whom he borrowed the money had subsequently petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the matter.
However, an interim police investigation report alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment letters and other official documents to create the impression that the PFIPC was a legitimate Federal Government agency.
The police said the investigation followed a petition from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President dated October 17, 2025, concerning the activities of individuals allegedly forging official appointment letters purportedly issued by the office.
According to the police, preliminary findings indicated that the documents contained falsified signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms.
The documents were allegedly used to appoint individuals into the purported council.
Adeyemi, identified as the principal suspect, allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
One of the individuals allegedly linked to the controversy, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, reportedly died in a fire at a hotel in Abuja.
Adeyemi has denied claims that the PFIPC was non-existent. He has also called for an independent, multi-stakeholder panel to investigate the controversy surrounding an alleged N1.3bn budgetary provision for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
In an open letter to President Tinubu, Adeyemi said he was prepared to provide documentary evidence and cooperate fully with investigators if an independent panel was constituted.
He proposed that the panel include representatives of civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, independent media organisations, international financial institutions, human rights groups and diplomatic missions.
He also called for the involvement of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the EFCC.
Adeyemi said his decision to stay off the radar was further reinforced by what he described as the controversial circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death, whom he identified as a key intermediary in the matter.
Among the charges against him is an allegation that he forged presidential letter-headed papers on or about March 8, 2024, in Abuja, contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
Another count alleges that he forged a request for collaboration with a ministry concerning land requisition and offices across the 36 states, purportedly issued from the State House, Abuja.
A further count accuses Adeyemi of falsely impersonating the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council between 2024 and 2025, an offence allegedly punishable under Section 179 of the Penal Code.
Adeyemi has denied all the allegations.
The court is expected to hear from the police and the AGF on September 9, when the respondents are to show cause why the reliefs sought by the detained suspect should not be granted.
