ICPC Re-Arraigns Alleged Fake Presidential Council DG Adeyemi Over N30.8bn Funding Fraud
ICPC Re-Arraigns Alleged Fake Presidential Council DG Adeyemi Over N30.8bn Funding Fraud
According to the amended charges, Adeyemi allegedly sought more than ₦27 billion as a take-off grant for the purported council and another ₦3.8 billion for personnel costs.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), on 22 counts bordering on forgery, impersonation and fraud involving an alleged ₦30.8 billion government funding request.
Adeyemi appeared before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecution alleged that Adeyemi forged official government documents to present the purported council as a legitimate government agency and secure official recognition, office facilities and billions of naira in public funds.
According to the amended charges, Adeyemi allegedly sought more than ₦27 billion as a take-off grant for the purported council and another ₦3.8 billion for personnel costs.
The commission accused him of using forged documents purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, to support his claim to the position of director-general.
One of the charges alleged that Adeyemi forged a letter with reference number SH/COS/209/A/3456, dated March 8, 2024, which purportedly appointed him to head the council.
The prosecution said the document was allegedly prepared to make it appear genuine and enable Adeyemi to occupy government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
Another count accused him of forging a document addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation and captioned, “RE: Request For Approval Of Self-Accounting Status.”
The ICPC alleged that the document was intended to enable the purported council to operate within the government’s financial reporting structure.
The commission also accused Adeyemi of forging correspondence addressed to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to obtain a domain name for the purported agency.
The charges further alleged that Adeyemi offered ₦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 another count, the prosecution accused him of offering ₦300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an official in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of two official vehicles, a Prado SUV and a Land Cruiser SUV.
The commission further alleged that Adeyemi obtained ₦20 million from Oyekunle Gbenga, Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretence of a “project facilitation loan”.
According to the prosecution, the money was connected to a purported ₦2.8 billion contract allegedly awarded by the council for the procurement of furniture and electronics and the refurbishment of the director-general’s official residence.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed between 2024 and 2026.
The prosecution said the charges contravened provisions of the Penal Code, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Following Adeyemi’s plea, prosecution counsel Fatima Bardi urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial to enable the commission to prove its allegations.
However, defence counsel Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, made an oral bail application, citing his client’s prolonged detention and health concerns.
Angulu told the court that Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had obtained a medical report from the police clinic where he had been receiving treatment.
The trial judge, Justice Halilu Yusuf, directed the defence counsel to file a formal bail application.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until November 9 for the commencement of trial and possible hearing of the bail application.
How The Case Started
The re-arraignment followed the withdrawal of the earlier charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on October 12 for amendment and refiling before the FCT High Court.
SaharaReporters had reported that the Federal Government withdrew an eight-count charge against Adeyemi before the Federal High Court in Abuja after the Attorney-General of the Federation reviewed the case and identified legal issues requiring the charges to be filed before a different court.
Oyedepo told the court that the alleged forged documents fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
Justice Mohammed Umar subsequently struck out the earlier charge to allow the government to commence fresh proceedings before the appropriate court.
Adeyemi had previously been arraigned before the Federal High Court on September 30 on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy and forgery. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre.
The case followed a petition by Gbajabiamila to the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service over the purported council and Adeyemi’s claim to be its director-general.
Police investigations reportedly uncovered correspondence between the purported agency and several government ministries, departments and agencies.
Investigators also traced 34 bank accounts linked to the operation, including nine allegedly opened in the names of purported government agencies.
In July, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the activities of the purported council. The Presidency said the council had never been established by the Federal Government and had no legal basis.
The investigation was also expected to examine the use of allegedly forged documents, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the movement of funds and the possible involvement of public officers or other individuals.
The ICPC subsequently said Adeyemi’s appointment letter was fraudulent and did not originate from the Presidency.
The commission submitted an interim report in August 2026 and recommended his prosecution.
Adeyemi has pleaded not guilty to the amended charges, and the allegations remain to be established in court.
