ICPC RE-ARRAIGNS ADEYEMI ON 22 COUNTS OF FORGERY, IMPERSONATION

The ICPC on Thursday re-arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi on 22 counts of alleged forgery and impersonation.

The PFIPC case now rests on a fresh charge before an Abuja court, over his purported claim to head a presidential agency. He appeared before the FCT High Court in Abuja and pleaded not guilty to all counts.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the allegations remain unproven, and he is presumed innocent. Outlets give the council’s name as the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council or the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

WHY THE CASE WAS REFILED

Adeyemi was first arraigned on 30 September before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge of forgery and impersonation.

That court struck out the charge on 12 October after the Federal Government sought to discontinue the case following a review by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Director of Public Prosecutions Rotimi Oyedepo told the court the review found the alleged offences fell within the FCT High Court’s jurisdiction, not the Federal High Court’s, where police had filed the charges.

ADVERTISEMENT

The prosecution then filed the fresh 22-count charge.

WHAT ICPC ALLEGES

The ICPC alleges that around 8 March 2024, in Abuja, Adeyemi forged a letter referenced SH/COS/209/A/3456, purportedly issued by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, appointing him director-general.

It says he used the forged document to gain government recognition and legitimacy for his alleged fraudulent activities.

Other counts accuse him of forging an executive order purportedly creating the council and a legislative instrument bearing the titles of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the council.

The amended charges allege he sought over N27bn as a take-off grant and another N3.8bn for personnel costs, a total of N30.8bn.

The ICPC says the forged documents were meant to present the council as a legitimate agency and secure recognition, office space and public funds.

The case followed a petition by Gbajabiamila to the Inspector-General of Police and the DSS over the purported council. The earlier charge also accused him of collecting N20 million from a company director under the pretext of a project facilitation loan linked to a purported N2.8bn contract.

THE BAIL QUESTION

ICPC counsel Fatima Bardi asked the court to fix a date for the prosecution to open its case.

Defence counsel Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, applied orally for bail.

Justice Halilu Yusuf directed him to file a written bail application. The defence told the court Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and held a medical report from the police clinic where he was treated.

The matter was adjourned to 9 November for trial and a possible hearing of his bail application.

WHY IT MATTERS

The case raises an uncomfortable question. How does a purported agency gain enough recognition to seek N30.8bn?

Government cannot answer that question by prosecution alone. It must also show what checks exist when a stranger claims presidential authority on paper.

The Adeniyi Adeyemi PFIPC trial will test the charges, and it will also test those checks. ValidViewNetwork reports.