The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has increased the charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged director-general of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), from 22 to 36 and added four civil servants as co-defendants.
The new defendants are Patricia Akhigbe, Florence Omameh, Aminu Abdullahi and Ogaba Harry. They are reportedly attached to the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
The development was disclosed on Monday by Sylvanus Tahir, counsel to the ICPC, during proceedings at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The case had been scheduled for the hearing of Adeyemi’s bail application. However, the amended charge requires all five defendants to be arraigned and enter their pleas.
The arraignment could not proceed because Omameh, the fourth defendant, was absent from court on health grounds.
Tahir told the court that the other four defendants, including Adeyemi, were present. He asked the judge to grant a short adjournment to allow Omameh to recover and attend the proceedings.
Justice Halilu Yusuf granted the request and adjourned the case until November 18 for the arraignment of all five defendants.
New defendants face additional allegations
The amended charge retains the allegations in the previous 22-count case while introducing further allegations involving the newly joined defendants.
Reports on the amended charge say the prosecution has included allegations of official corruption, abuse of office, impersonation of a public servant, criminal conspiracy and the giving or acceptance of gratification.
The prosecution is also alleging that Adeyemi involved public officers in activities connected to the purported council. The allegations are yet to be tested in court, and the defendants have not entered pleas to the amended charge.
Adeyemi was previously arraigned on a 22-count charge in October over alleged forgery and impersonation. He had pleaded not guilty.
How the case began
The case followed an earlier eight-count charge against Adeyemi, which was struck out by the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 12 after the Federal Government sought to discontinue the proceedings following a review by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Adeyemi had first been arraigned on the eight-count charge on September 30, 2026. The subsequent 22-count charge was filed after the earlier proceedings were discontinued.
The investigation centres on allegations that Adeyemi established and operated a purported government agency without legal authorisation, presenting himself as its director-general.
The alleged council reportedly occupied office space at the Federal Secretariat, recruited staff and secured an allocation in the 2026 national budget despite questions over its legal status.
Adeyemi had also alleged that Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, received N400 million through a proxy in connection with his appointment letter. That claim remains an allegation and should not be treated as an established fact.
The November 18 hearing is expected to allow the five defendants to be formally arraigned on the amended charges.
