The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed an amended 36-count charge against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of parading himself as the director-general of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The ICPC also added four new defendants to the case. The original charge had 22 counts. The four additional defendants are Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Florence Omameh, and Patricia Akhigbe.
The case was initially instituted by the Nigeria Police and was scheduled for the hearing of Adeyemi's bail application. However, proceedings were disrupted due to the amendment of the charge, which requires all defendants to take their pleas. The arraignment could not proceed because the fourth defendant, Florence Omameh, was absent from court on health grounds. This prevented the prosecution from taking the pleas of all the accused persons.
The prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, told the court that Omameh's absence had stalled the arraignment. Tahir insisted that all defendants must be present for the criminal proceedings to continue. He cited Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which states that an accused person must be present in court throughout the trial, subject to exceptions provided by law.
Tahir asked the court for a short adjournment to allow Omameh to recover and participate in the arraignment. Adeyemi's counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the amended charge or the request for an adjournment. However, Angulu drew the court's attention to his client's prolonged detention. The court subsequently adjourned the case until November 18 for the arraignment of the defendants.
Justice Yusuf Halilu ordered that Adeyemi be returned to the Kuje Correctional Facility, while the other defendants were directed to return to the ICPC detention facility. The case involves allegations against Adeyemi for parading himself as the director-general of a non-existent council. The ICPC's action indicates an expansion of its investigation into the matter.
The addition of four new defendants and the increase in charges suggest a more extensive probe into the alleged crimes. The court's decision to adjourn the case until November 18 allows for the absent defendant to recover and for all parties to prepare for the arraignment. The case has garnered attention due to the nature of the allegations and the number of parties involved.
The ICPC's move to amend the charge and add more defendants underscores its commitment to thorough investigations. The commission's actions will be closely watched as the case unfolds. The arraignment on November 18 will be a critical step in the judicial process.
Key points
- The ICPC has expanded its charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi from 22 to 36 counts.
- Four new defendants have been added to the case.
- The case has been adjourned until November 18 for the arraignment of the defendants.
