The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi afresh on 22 counts bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and other offences over his purported claim to the position of Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Adeyemi was arraigned on Thursday, October 29, 2026, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, where he pleaded not guilty to all 22 counts brought against him.
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, 2026, after the Federal Government sought to discontinue the proceedings following a review by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
According to the prosecution, the review established that the alleged offences fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court, where the initial charge had been filed.
Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, had informed the court that the decision to discontinue the earlier proceedings followed the jurisdictional review. The prosecution subsequently filed the fresh charges before the FCT High Court.
In the new charge, the ICPC accused Adeyemi of forging a letter dated March 8, 2024, purportedly signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appointing him as Director-General of the PFIPC.
The commission alleged that Adeyemi used forged documents to present the purported council as a legitimate government institution and gain access to government facilities and official processes.
Other counts reportedly concern the alleged forgery of an executive order purportedly establishing the council, as well as a legislative instrument bearing the titles of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC.
The anti-corruption agency further alleged that Adeyemi forged a document addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation seeking approval for the purported institution to operate within the government’s financial reporting structure.
The charge also reportedly includes allegations that documents were submitted to the National Information Technology Development Agency to obtain a domain name for the council.
In another set of allegations, the ICPC accused Adeyemi of using forged documents presented to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to seek more than ₦27 billion for the establishment of the purported agency and an additional ₦3.8 billion for personnel costs.
The prosecution also alleged that Adeyemi gave ₦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 a separate allegation, Adeyemi was accused of giving ₦300,000 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 ₦20 million from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretext of a project facilitation loan connected to a purported ₦2.8 billion contract for furnishing and renovating the official residence of the PFIPC director-general.
The alleged offences reportedly occurred between 2024 and 2026 and are said to contravene 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 separately alleged that Gbajabiamila collected ₦400 million through a proxy in connection with the appointment letter. That allegation remains a claim made by Adeyemi and is distinct from the charges filed against him.
Following the defendant’s plea, ICPC counsel Fatima Bardi asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
Defence counsel Ibrahim Angulu subsequently made an oral application for bail. However, the presiding judge, Justice Halilu Yusuf, directed the defence to submit a formal written application in accordance with the court’s procedure.
Angulu agreed to file the application 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 had a medical report from the police clinic where he received treatment.
Justice Yusuf adjourned the matter until November 9, 2026, for trial and possible consideration of the bail application.
The case is expected to test the prosecution’s allegations concerning the authenticity of the purported council’s establishment documents, the alleged financial transactions and the use of government facilities.
Adeyemi remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until the allegations against him are proved beyond reasonable doubt before a court of competent jurisdiction.
