The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Prince Matthew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed to be the Director-General of the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). Adeyemi was brought before Justice Yusuf Halilu at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja on a 22-count charge. The charges include forgery, false personation as a public servant, and obtaining over N27 billion to start the fake agency and N3.8 billion for personnel costs.
According to the ICPC, Adeyemi forged a document addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to obtain N30.8 billion from government coffers. The prosecution alleged that on March 8, 2024, Adeyemi forged a letter, purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, appointing him as the Director-General of the fake PFIPC. The forged document was presented as genuine to occupy government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex Phase III.
The ICPC claimed that Adeyemi further forged documents to obtain a domain name for the fake agency from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). He also allegedly gifted N210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an Assistant Chief Technical Officer in the Office of the Secretary General of the Federation (OSFG), to facilitate the allocation of office space without official authorization. Additionally, Adeyemi gifted N300,000 to an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President to facilitate the release of two official vehicles.
The prosecution accused Adeyemi of collecting N20 million from the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Oyekunle Gbenga, under the false pretence of a "project facilitation loan" for a purported contract valued at N2.8 billion. The ICPC alleged that all the offences were carried out between 2024 and 2026. The offences are said to contravene Sections 364, 366, and 132 of the Penal Code Cap. 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990.
Adeyemi pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in the open court. The prosecuting counsel, Fatima Bardi, asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial. Counsel for the defendant, Ibrahim Angulu SAN, applied orally to the court to grant Adeyemi bail, citing his prolonged detention and health challenges. Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had obtained a health report from the police clinic, showing his deteriorating health condition.
Justice Halilu directed the defence counsel to file a written bail application and adjourned the case to November 9, 2026, for commencement of trial and possible hearing of the defendant's bail application. The ICPC alleged that Adeyemi's actions were punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 9(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The case has raised concerns about the prevalence of fake agencies and corruption in Nigeria. The ICPC's efforts to prosecute Adeyemi demonstrate its commitment to tackling corruption and promoting accountability in government. The outcome of the trial will be closely watched as it may set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
Key points
- ICPC arraigns self-acclaimed Director-General of fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council
- Adeyemi obtained over N30.8 billion through forged documents
- Trial to commence on November 9, 2026
