The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), on 22 counts of alleged forgery, impersonation and fraud before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

Adeyemi was arraigned afresh on Thursday following the striking out of an earlier eight-count charge by the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 12.

The earlier charge was withdrawn after the Federal Government sought to discontinue the proceedings based on a review conducted by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, had told 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 case.

The prosecution subsequently filed a fresh charge 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 the President, appointing him director-general of the PFIPC, which the commission described as a fictitious government agency.

The commission alleged that Adeyemi used forged documents to portray the purported council as a legitimate government institution and gain access to government facilities and official processes.

The allegations include the forgery of an executive order purportedly establishing the agency, as well as a legislative instrument bearing the titles of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC.

Adeyemi was also accused of forging a document addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation to secure approval for the purported agency to operate within the government's financial reporting structure.

Other counts relate to alleged forged documents submitted to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to obtain a domain name for the purported council.

The ICPC further alleged that Adeyemi sought to obtain more than N27 billion for the establishment of the agency and N3.8 billion for personnel costs by presenting forged documents to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

In another count, the commission accused him of giving 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 offering N300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of two official vehicles—a Prado sport utility vehicle and a Land Cruiser.

The charge 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 for a purported N2.8 billion contract to furnish and renovate the official residence of the PFIPC director-general.

The alleged offences, said to have occurred between 2024 and 2026, 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 but claimed that Gbajabiamila collected N400 million through a proxy in connection with his appointment letter to the purported agency.

When the case came up on Thursday, Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all 22 counts.

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

However, Ibrahim Angulu, counsel to Adeyemi, made an oral application for bail.

The presiding judge, Halilu Yusuf, directed the defence counsel to file a formal written application.

Angulu accepted the directive but urged the court to schedule an early hearing, citing his client's prolonged detention and health concerns.

He 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 consideration of the bail application.