The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Adeniyi Adeyemi, 38, who was arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation. Adeyemi, who allegedly posed as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, pleaded not guilty to all the allegations. The case was initially instituted by the Nigeria Police Force and was later taken over by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Adeyemi's arraignment followed his previous failure to appear in court, prompting Justice Mohammed Umar to issue an arrest warrant against him. He was subsequently arrested about 24 hours after the order was issued. The prosecution alleges that Adeyemi operated the purported council from an office on the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja. The first count alleges that Adeyemi conspired with two suspects, Femi and Anu, who are still at large, to forge official documents.
The prosecution also accused Adeyemi of forging presidential letter-headed papers and documents purportedly emanating from the State House. Other allegations include the alleged forgery of requests for collaboration with government authorities, land requisition, and office accommodation across the 36 states of the federation. The charge further alleges that Adeyemi forged documents relating to staff account approval and the purported take-off of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC.
In count five, the prosecution accused Adeyemi of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, contrary to Section 179 of the Penal Code. Adeyemi has denied the allegations against him. The case is part of a wider controversy surrounding the purported PFIPC and claims that Adeyemi presented the organisation as a presidentially backed government body.
The Presidency had denied that the council was an established government agency, while the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission was subsequently directed to investigate activities surrounding the purported council. The ICPC later stated that Adeyemi's appointment letter was fraudulent and did not originate from the Presidency. The controversy escalated after Adeyemi alleged that he paid N400m through a middleman as part of a wider arrangement to secure his appointment as the council's Director-General.
Adeyemi's counsel, Genesis Francis, had asked the court to consider his client's bail application, citing a medical appointment scheduled for Friday. However, the prosecution opposed the immediate release of the defendant, and Justice Umar declined to hear the bail application immediately, citing the volume of cases on the court's cause list. The judge consequently ordered Adeyemi's remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until October 12, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and continuation of the substantive trial.
The prosecution has listed several witnesses it intends to call during the trial, including Femi Gbajabiamila, officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, police officers, and civil servants. Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all eight counts and remains entitled to the presumption of innocence until the allegations against him are determined by the court.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly impersonated the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, to the Kuje Correctional Centre.
- Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.
- The prosecution has listed several witnesses, including Gbajabiamila and officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, to testify during the trial.
