The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of Adeniyi Adeyemi in the Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and conspiracy.
Adeyemi is accused by the Federal Government of presenting himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency the prosecution described in the case as fictitious.
He was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Umar following the takeover of the case by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, was initially filed by the police on November 27, 2025, against Adeyemi and two other suspects, who are still at large.
The prosecution alleges that Adeyemi and the other suspects conspired to forge presidential appointment letters, State House documents and other official correspondence between 2024 and 2025.
One of the allegations is that Adeyemi forged an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by the then Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
He was also accused of forging presidential letterhead and documents relating to requests for collaboration with government authorities, land allocation, office accommodation, staff accounts and the purported take-off of the PFIPC.
Another count alleges that he falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
After the eight counts were read to him, Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that by his plea, the defendant had joined issues with the prosecution and put himself up for trial.
Oyedepo urged the court to remand Adeyemi in custody, citing circumstances surrounding his conduct before his arrest and arraignment.
Defence counsel, Genesis Francis, however, informed the court that the defendant had filed a bail application, which had been served on the prosecution and was ready for hearing.
Justice Umar subsequently ordered Adeyemi’s remand in the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until October 12, 2026, for trial and hearing of the bail application.
The defendant had earlier failed to appear in court for his arraignment, prompting the trial judge to order his arrest. He was arrested about 24 hours later.
According to the charge, Adeyemi allegedly operated the purported agency from the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, before his arrest.
The Federal Government had earlier directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the purported agency.
The prosecution listed several witnesses in the case, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; Ituah Sylvester; and officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Other witnesses listed include a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Adamu Balongu; Ojo Victor; Omeh Amarachukwu; and Wakili Saidu, who were allegedly posted to work with Adeyemi at the purported agency.
Joy Ngwoke, owner of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, and Ven Okoriko, pastor of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, were also listed as prosecution witnesses.
Documents the prosecution said it intends to tender include the police investigation report, a petition by Gbajabiamila dated October 17, 2025, and an alleged presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024.
Other documents include correspondence relating to a request for a note verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alleged approvals for opening accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, a request for approval for self-accounting to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and an alleged approval for the take-off of the purported PFIPC.
The prosecution also listed correspondence seeking collaboration with the relevant ministry on land acquisition and office accommodation across the 36 states, statements obtained from witnesses and defendants, as well as photographs.
The charges allege that the offences were committed in Abuja and are punishable under the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Penal Code.
