The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has brought 22 fresh charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi over allegations of forgery, impersonation, bribery and attempts to obtain government funds through a purported presidential investment promotion council.
Adeyemi was arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him.
The case revolves around allegations that he used forged documents to present himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the commission claims he portrayed as a legitimate government institution.
According to the prosecution, the alleged scheme involved documents purportedly establishing the council, an appointment letter bearing the name of a senior presidential aide, applications for government funding and efforts to obtain public resources for the organisation.
The ICPC is also investigating alleged financial transactions involving government officials and a private company in connection with the council’s purported operations.
Appointment letter at centre of allegations
One of the major allegations concerns a letter dated March 8, 2024, which the commission claims Adeyemi forged to support his purported appointment as the council’s director-general.
The document allegedly carried the signature of Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
The commission accused Adeyemi of using the letter and other documents to give the impression that the PFIPC had official government recognition and was authorised to conduct public business.
The charges also include allegations that he forged an executive order purportedly establishing the council and a legislative instrument associated with the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC.
Investigators further alleged that Adeyemi presented documents to different government institutions to facilitate the purported council’s inclusion in official administrative processes.
One of the documents was allegedly addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation in a bid to secure approval for the organisation to operate within the government’s financial reporting structure.
The ICPC also accused him of submitting documents to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to obtain a domain name for the purported council.
Alleged bid for N27bn government funding
The prosecution’s allegations extend to attempts to secure substantial financial allocations from the Federal Government.
The ICPC claimed that Adeyemi used documents allegedly connected to the purported council to seek more than N27 billion from the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
According to the commission, the money was intended to facilitate the establishment of the organisation.
He was also accused of seeking another N3.8 billion for personnel expenses associated with the purported agency.
The prosecution is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged applications, the documents submitted and the basis for its claims as the case proceeds.
Adeyemi, however, has denied the allegations by pleading not guilty to all 22 counts. The accusations remain unproven, and the court will determine the case based on the evidence presented by both parties.
Commission alleges payments to two officials
Two other aspects of the charge concern alleged payments to officials working in government offices.
The ICPC alleged that Adeyemi gave N210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an assistant chief technical officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The commission claimed the payment was intended to facilitate the allocation of office space to the purported council without the necessary official authorisation.
In a separate allegation, Adeyemi was accused of paying N300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President.
According to the prosecution, the payment was connected to efforts to obtain a Toyota Prado sport utility vehicle and a Toyota Land Cruiser.
The allegations form part of the commission’s broader case concerning the purported council’s activities and its alleged attempts to access government facilities and resources.
N20m loan linked to purported N2.8bn contract
The fresh charges also include an allegation involving N20 million allegedly obtained from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited.
The commission claimed Adeyemi received the money under the pretext of a project facilitation loan.
According to the prosecution, the transaction was linked to a purported N2.8 billion contract for furnishing and renovating the official residence of the PFIPC director-general.
The commission is expected to present its evidence on the transaction during the proceedings.
The alleged offences reportedly occurred between 2024 and 2026 and fall under provisions of relevant laws, including the Penal Code, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
Fresh prosecution follows earlier case
The new arraignment came after an earlier eight-count charge against Adeyemi was struck out by the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 12.
The development followed the Federal Government’s decision to discontinue the earlier proceedings after a review by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Rotimi Oyedepo, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, had informed the court that the review found that the alleged offences fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court, where the police initially filed the charges.
The prosecution subsequently filed the fresh 22-count charge before the FCT High Court.
Separately, Adeyemi has accused Gbajabiamila of allegedly collecting N400 million through a proxy in connection with the appointment letter. That allegation remains Adeyemi’s claim and has not been established by the charges outlined before the court.
Court adjourns case as defence seeks bail
After Adeyemi entered his plea, ICPC counsel Fatima Bardi requested a date for the commencement of the trial.
His lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, subsequently made an oral application for bail. However, the presiding judge, Halilu Yusuf, directed the defence to file a formal written application.
Angulu agreed to comply but appealed for an early hearing, citing his client’s prolonged detention and health concerns.
The defence counsel told the court that Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and possessed a medical report from the police clinic where he had received treatment.
Justice Yusuf adjourned the case until November 9 for trial and possible consideration of the bail application.
The next proceedings are expected to address the continuation of the prosecution and any formal request for Adeyemi’s release on bail.
Until the court reaches a determination, Adeyemi remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.
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