The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director-General of alleged non-existing Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a short ruling, held that Adeyemi would be in custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
Justice Umar then adjourned the matter until October 12 and 13 for hearing of the application for bail and for commencement of trial.
Adeyemi and his co-defendants are being prosecuted on an eight-count charge preferred against them by the police.
The police, in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, accused the defendants of allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation, among others.
While the Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant, Adeyemi, 38 years; “Femi Surname Unknown” and “Anu Surname Unknown” were named as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
The charge was filed on November 27, 2025, by Wisdom Madaki, a police prosecutor.
When the case was called on Wednesday, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, told Justice Umar that the AGF had directed the take over of the case from the police.
“The honourable Attorney-General of the Federation has instructed the take over of this chrage.
“We are going to review the facts and the charge,” he said.
Oyedepo, however, prayed the court to allow the charge to be read to Adeyemi in order to take his plea.
The defendant’s lawyer, Genesis Eyibo, did not oppose the application.
After the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty to the eight counts.
Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, then sought an accelerated hearing of the case and a trial date to present their witnesses in court.
He said the matter had generated public attention, hence, the need for a speedy trial.
“We further request that pending the determination of this charge and in view of the disposition of the defendant before his production before your lordship, we urge my lord to remand him in prison custody,” he added.
Responding, Eyibo told the court that he had a bail application which was filed on January 12.
He said the prosecution had been served and their counter affidavit received.
“We have filed our reply on points of law. So, it is ripe for hearing my lord,” he said.
The judge held that the bail application could not be taken due to other cases before the court.
Eyibo, who appealed to the judge to allow him move the application for his client’s bail, said Adeyemi had a communicable illness, which might threaten other inmates.
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct0ber 12 and 13 for hearing of the application for bail and trial.
The judge who ordered that Adeyemi be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, fixed 12 noon for the hearing.
Justice Umar had, on July 14, ordered Adeyemi to be arrested following his failure to appear for his arraignment.
According to the court documents, witnesses listed in the case are the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede and Ituah Sylvester.
Other witnesses are civil servants working in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, AGoF, Akimbo Shola and DSP Adamu Balongu.
Also listed as witnesses are Ojo Victor, Omeh Amarachukwu, and Wakili Saidu, all of whom were allegedly posted to work with Adeyemi at the non-existent agency.
Others are Mrs Joy Ngwoke, the owner of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, and Ven Okoriko, the pastor of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama.
The documentary evidence expected to be tendered by the police include the police investigation report, Gbajabiamila’s petition dated October 17, 2025; and Adeyemi’s fake presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024.
These also include the request for a note verbally by Adeyemi sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the approvals he got to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, request for approval of self-accounting Adeyemi sent to the AGoF and the conveyance of approval for take-off of the PFIPC.
Other documents listed by the prosecution are a letter of request for collaboration with the ministry in the area of land acquisition and offices across the 36 states of the federation; statements of all the witnesses and that of the defendants, and pictures.
The police, in the court document, said “the prosecution shall during the trial call any other related witness or witnesses to prove its case.”
Adeyemi was alleged to have operated the fictitious agency from the 2nd Floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, Phase III, before his arrest.
President Tinubu had, on July 7, directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to also conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the fictitious agency.
The ICPC, which was given 30 days to complete the investigation, had since concluded its investigation.
Source: NAN
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