A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), in the Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded not guilty to eight counts of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Adeyemi’s remand on Wednesday and adjourned the case until October 12, 2026, when his bail application and continuation of the substantive trial will be considered.
Adeyemi, 38, was arraigned following the takeover of the prosecution by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, appeared for the Federal Government and informed the court that the Ministry of Justice had taken over the case from the Nigeria Police Force.
He said the case file would be reviewed but urged the court to proceed with the existing charge.
After the eight counts were read to him, Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all the allegations.
Oyedepo subsequently asked the court to remand him in custody, arguing that the circumstances surrounding his conduct before his arrest warranted such an order.
Defence counsel, Genesis Francis, urged the court to consider Adeyemi’s bail application, which he said had already been filed and served on the prosecution.
Francis also informed the court that his client had a medical appointment scheduled for Friday in connection with an ailment he described as contagious.
Oyedepo opposed Adeyemi’s immediate release but assured the court that the defendant would receive appropriate medical attention at the correctional facility.
He said Kuje Correctional Centre had medical personnel and facilities capable of attending to Adeyemi’s needs.
Justice Umar, however, declined to hear the bail application immediately, citing the volume of cases listed for hearing.
The judge consequently ordered Adeyemi’s remand and fixed October 12 for hearing of the bail application and continuation of the trial.
How the case started
The case, initially instituted by the police, involves Adeyemi and two other suspects identified as Femi and Anu, who are still at large.
Adeyemi’s arraignment followed his previous failure to appear in court.
Justice Umar had earlier issued a warrant for his arrest following an application by police counsel, Wisdom Madaki.
He was arrested about 24 hours after the warrant was issued.
Prosecutors allege that Adeyemi operated the purported PFIPC from an office on the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
According to the charge, Adeyemi allegedly conspired with the two other suspects to forge official documents.
One of the counts specifically accuses him of forging an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He is also accused of forging presidential letter-headed papers and other documents purportedly originating from the State House.
Other allegations relate to forged requests for collaboration with government authorities, land requisition and office accommodation in the 36 states of the federation.
The prosecution further alleges that documents relating to staff account approval and the purported take-off of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and PFIPC were forged.
In another count, Adeyemi was accused of falsely presenting himself as Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, contrary to Section 179 of the Penal Code.
Presidency disowned purported council
The case is linked to a wider controversy over PFIPC and claims that the organisation was a government-backed body.
The Presidency had denied that the council was an established government agency.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was subsequently directed to investigate the activities surrounding the purported council.
In an interim report submitted to President Tinubu, ICPC said its investigation established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government or any government authority and that PFIPC was not created by any law, executive order or other valid government instrument.
The commission recommended his prosecution for offences including forgery and impersonation.
Adeyemi has, however, denied the allegations and maintained his plea of not guilty.
N400m bribery allegation
The controversy intensified after Adeyemi alleged that he paid N400 million through an intermediary as part of an arrangement to secure his appointment as PFIPC director-general.
He also accused Gbajabiamila of involvement in the alleged payment arrangement, a claim the Chief of Staff denied.
Gbajabiamila subsequently filed a N15 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
The suit seeks N10 billion in general damages, N5 billion in aggravated damages and N200 million in legal costs, as well as an order compelling Adeyemi to retract the allegations and apologise in five national newspapers.
The Chief of Staff has denied meeting Adeyemi or authorising anyone to receive money on his behalf.
Prosecutors have listed several witnesses for the criminal trial, including Gbajabiamila, officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, police officers and civil servants.
Other listed witnesses include Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede, Ituah Sylvester, Akimbo Shola, Adamu Balongu, Ojo Victor, Omeh Amarachukwu and Wakili Saidu, some of whom are alleged to have worked with Adeyemi at the purported agency.
The criminal proceedings will resume on October 12, 2026, when the court is expected to hear Adeyemi’s bail application and continue proceedings on the substantive charges.
