The ICPC has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi on 22 counts of alleged forgery and impersonation over the purported PFIPC. The court adjourned the case to November 9.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as director-general of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), on 22 counts of alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Adeyemi was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Halilu Yusuf, following the filing of a fresh charge after an earlier eight-count case against him was struck out by the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 12.

He pleaded not guilty to all 22 counts.

The earlier charge was withdrawn after the Federal Government sought to terminate the proceedings following a review by the Attorney-General of the Federation. Rotimi Oyedepo, director of public prosecutions of the federation, told the Federal High Court that the alleged offences fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the court where the initial charge was filed.

ICPC alleges forged presidential appointment letter

In the fresh charge, the ICPC accused Adeyemi of forging a letter dated March 8, 2024, with reference number SH/COS/209/A/3456, purportedly signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, appointing him director-general of the PFIPC.

The commission alleged that Adeyemi used the document to present the purported council as a legitimate government institution and gain access to government facilities and official processes.

Other allegations concern a forged executive order purportedly establishing the council and a legislative instrument bearing the names of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and PFIPC.

The commission also accused Adeyemi of forging a document addressed to the accountant-general of the federation to obtain approval for the purported agency to operate within the government’s financial reporting structure.

Additional counts relate to documents allegedly sent to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to obtain a domain name for the council. The allegations are yet to be tested in court.

Charge alleges ₦30.8bn funding request

The ICPC further alleged that Adeyemi sought more than ₦27bn to establish the purported agency and ₦3.8bn for personnel costs by presenting forged documents to the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.

The commission also accused him of offering ₦210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an assistant chief technical officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to facilitate the allocation of office space without official authorisation.

In another count, the ICPC alleged that Adeyemi gave ₦300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of two official vehicles: a Toyota Prado sport utility vehicle and a Land Cruiser.

The commission also accused Adeyemi of obtaining ₦20m from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretence of a project facilitation loan for a purported ₦2.8bn contract to furnish and renovate the official residence of the PFIPC director-general.

The alleged offences occurred between 2024 and 2026 and are charged under provisions of the Penal Code, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.

Adeyemi has previously alleged that Gbajabiamila collected ₦400m through a proxy in connection with his appointment letter to the purported council. Gbajabiamila has denied involvement in the alleged payment arrangement.

Court directs defence to file written bail application

Following Adeyemi’s plea, Fatima Bardi, counsel for the ICPC, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

Ibrahim Angulu, counsel for Adeyemi, made an oral application for bail. Justice Yusuf directed him to file a formal written application.

Angulu agreed but asked the court to fix an early date, citing his client’s prolonged detention and health concerns.

He told the court that Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and that he had a medical report from the police clinic where his client had received treatment. The judge adjourned the case until November 9, 2026, for trial and possible consideration of the bail application.

Adeyemi’s not-guilty plea means the prosecution must prove the allegations against him in court.