ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly paraded himself as the Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), in Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged forgery and impersonation.
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the order on Wednesday after Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge filed against him and two other defendants, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The judge ordered that Adeyemi remain in custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application and subsequently adjourned the case until October 12 and 13 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, while Adeyemi, 38, “Femi Surname Unknown” and “Anu Surname Unknown” are listed as the first to third defendants respectively.
The charge was initially filed by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki on November 27, 2025, over allegations including forgery and impersonation.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the AGF had directed the takeover of the prosecution from the police.
“The honourable Attorney-General of the Federation has instructed the take over of this charge.
“We are going to review the facts and the charge,” Oyedepo said.
He nevertheless asked the court to allow the charge to be read to Adeyemi so that he could enter his plea. Defence counsel, Genesis Eyibo, did not oppose the request.
After the eight-count charge was read to him, Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, subsequently urged the court to expedite the proceedings, citing the public attention generated by the case.
He also asked the court to remand Adeyemi in custody pending the determination of the charge.
“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 said.
Eyibo, however, informed the court that he had already filed a bail application on January 12 and that the prosecution had been served with the application and had filed a counter-affidavit.
He said the defence had also filed a reply on points of law, arguing that the application was ripe for hearing.
The judge said the bail application could not be taken immediately because of other matters before the court.
The defence counsel subsequently appealed to the court to hear the application, arguing that Adeyemi had a communicable illness which could pose a risk to other inmates.
Justice Umar nevertheless ordered that the defendant be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed noon on October 12 for the hearing.
The case dates back to July 14, when the court ordered Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear for his arraignment.
According to court documents, the prosecution has listed several witnesses, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.
Others include civil servants working in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and DSP Adamu Balongu.
Also listed are Ojo Victor, Omeh Amarachukwu and Wakili Saidu, who were allegedly posted to work with Adeyemi at the purported agency.
The prosecution also listed Mrs Joy Ngwoke, owner of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, and Ven Okoriko, pastor of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, as witnesses.
Among the documentary evidence expected to be tendered are the police investigation report, a petition by Gbajabiamila dated October 17, 2025, and an alleged presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024, which the prosecution described as fake.
Other documents include correspondence allegedly sent by Adeyemi to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approvals purportedly obtained to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, a request to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for approval of self-accounting, and an alleged approval for the take-off of the PFIPC.
The prosecution also listed correspondence seeking collaboration with the ministry over land acquisition and offices across the 36 states, statements from witnesses and defendants, as well as photographs.
The police stated in the charge that they reserved the right to call other relevant witnesses during the trial.
Adeyemi was allegedly operating the purported agency from the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, before his arrest.
Following concerns over the activities of the purported agency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 7 directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate its operations.
The ICPC was given 30 days to complete the investigation and has since said it concluded its probe.
