The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed 22 fresh charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi over allegations of forgery, impersonation, bribery and fraud linked to his purported claim to head the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Adeyemi was arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to all 22 counts.
The fresh charges followed the discontinuation of an earlier case involving eight counts before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The earlier charges were struck out on October 12 after the Federal Government applied to discontinue the proceedings.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, had informed the court that a review conducted by the Attorney-General of the Federation found that the alleged offences fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court, where the initial case had been filed.
In the new charges, the ICPC accused Adeyemi of forging 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 PFIPC.
According to the commission, Adeyemi allegedly used forged documents to present the purported council as a legitimate government institution and gain access to government facilities, officials and administrative processes.
The anti-corruption agency also accused him of forging an executive order purportedly establishing the council, alongside a legislative instrument bearing the names of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC.
In another count, the commission alleged that Adeyemi forged a document addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation in an attempt to secure recognition for the purported agency within the Federal Government’s financial reporting structure.
The allegations further include the purported submission of forged documents to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to obtain a domain name for the council.
The ICPC also alleged that Adeyemi presented forged documents to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy in a bid to obtain more than ₦27 billion for the establishment of the purported agency.
An additional ₦3.8 billion was allegedly sought to cover personnel costs.
The commission’s allegations centre on claims that Adeyemi attempted to use the purported council’s name and documents to obtain government funding and access official resources.
However, the allegations remain unproven, as Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to the charges. Several counts relate to alleged payments made to public officials to secure government facilities and other benefits.
The commission accused Adeyemi of giving ₦210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an assistant chief technical officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, allegedly to facilitate the allocation of office space without official authorisation.
In a separate allegation, Adeyemi was 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 two sport utility vehicles: a Prado and a Land Cruiser.
The ICPC further alleged that Adeyemi obtained ₦20 million from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the guise of a project facilitation loan.
According to the commission, the money was allegedly connected to a purported ₦2.8 billion contract for furnishing and renovating the official residence of the PFIPC director-general.
The allegations form part of the 22-count case now before the FCT High Court.
Adeyemi has denied the allegations against him and pleaded not guilty to every count.
He has also separately alleged that Gbajabiamila received ₦400 million through a proxy in connection with the appointment letter at the centre of the dispute.
That allegation remains Adeyemi’s claim and has not been established as fact.
The case involves allegations of offences said to have occurred between 2024 and 2026. The ICPC is relying on 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.Following Adeyemi’s plea, ICPC counsel Fatima Bardi asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial..
However, defence counsel Ibrahim Angulu made an oral application for bail, prompting the presiding judge, Halilu Yusuf, to direct the defence to file a formal written application.
Angulu agreed to comply with the directive but urged the court to consider the application promptly, citing his client’s prolonged detention and health concerns.
The defence lawyer told the court that Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had a medical report from the police clinic where he had received treatment.
The defence’s request for an expedited hearing is expected to be considered alongside After hearing the submissions, Justice Halilu Yusuf adjourned the matter until November 9 for trial and possible consideration of Adeyemi’s bail application.
The next proceedings are expected to determine the immediate course of the case as the ICPC pursues the fresh charges and the defence seeks Adeyemi’s release on bail.
With Adeyemi maintaining his not-guilty plea, the allegations remain matters for determination by the court.
