ICPC Arraigns PFIPC’s Adeyemi On 22 Fresh Counts Of Forgery, Impersonation

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi l on 22 fresh counts bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences over his purported claim to the position of Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Adeyemi was arraigned on Thursday before the FCT High Court in Abuja, where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The fresh arraignment followed the striking out of an earlier eight-count charge against him 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 (AGF).

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, had informed the court that the review established 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 a fresh 22-count charge before the FCT High Court.

In the new charge, the ICPC alleged that Adeyemi forged a letter dated March 8, 2024, purportedly signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, appointing him as Director-General of the PFIPC.

The commission accused Adeyemi of using forged documents to portray the purported council as a legitimate government institution and gain access to government facilities and official processes.

Other allegations include forging an executive order purportedly establishing the council and a legislative instrument titled the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC.

The ICPC also accused him of forging a document addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation to seek approval for the purported agency to operate within the government’s financial reporting structure.

Another count relates to documents allegedly submitted to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to obtain a domain name for the council.

The commission further alleged that Adeyemi used forged documents, presented to the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, to seek more than N27 billion for the establishment of the purported agency, as well as N3.8 billion for personnel costs.

In separate counts, the ICPC accused Adeyemi of offering financial inducements to two government officials to facilitate access to government resources.

According to the commission, he allegedly gave N210,000 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.

He was also accused of giving N300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of a Prado sport utility vehicle and a Land Cruiser.

The commission further alleged that Adeyemi obtained N20 million from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretence of a project facilitation loan.

The money was allegedly linked to a purported N2.8 billion contract to furnish and renovate the official residence of the PFIPC director-general.

The alleged offences reportedly occurred between 2024 and 2026 and are punishable under relevant 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 denied the allegations. He has also separately accused Gbajabiamila of collecting N400 million through a proxy in connection with the appointment letter. The allegation remains Adeyemi’s claim and has not been established by the charges outlined before the court.

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

However, defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, made an oral bail application, prompting the presiding judge, Halilu Yusuf, to direct him to file a formal written application.

Angulu agreed to comply with the directive but urged the court to schedule 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.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until November 9 for trial and possible hearing of the bail application.