*Remanded In Kuje Correctional Centre
A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who paraded himself as director general of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), in the Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and conspiracy.
The Federal Government has accused Adeyemi of presenting himself as head of an agency the prosecution described in the case as fictitious.
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the order, following the Attorney General of the Federation’s (AGF) takeover of the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, initially filed by the Police on November 27, last year, against Adeyemi and two others, still at large.
Adeyemi, who was finally arraigned after several failed attempts to bring him before the court, was led into the courtroom at about 2:33 p.m., wearing a white long, flowing dress and a white baseball cap.
He was led by a female Police officer of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC).
Although he appeared cheerful, he kept his head lowered, with the brim of his cap partly covering his face, as he waited for his case to be called.
The case was filed in November 2025 after Adeyemi was arrested by the Police in October that year, following a petition by Gbajabiamila.
The Police charged had charged him and two others, identified as Femi and Anu, said to be at large, with eight counts of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
The prosecution alleged that Adeyemi and the other suspects conspired to forge presidential appointment letters; State House documents and other official correspondence between 2024 and 2025; forged an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; forging presidential letterhead and documents relating to requests for collaboration with government authorities, land allocation, office accommodation, staff account and purported take-off of the PFIPC.
He was also accused of falsely presented himself as the director general of the purported PFIPC.
After the counts were read to him, Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Consequently, 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, urging the court to remand Adeyemi in custody, citing circumstances surrounding his conduct before his arrest and arraignment.
But defence Counsel, Genesis Francis, 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, for trial and hearing of the bail application.
Adeyemi had earlier failed to appear in court for his arraignment, prompting Justice Umar to order his arrest, which was effected about 24 hours later.
The Federal Government had earlier directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate PFIPC’s activities.
The prosecution has listed Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; Ituah Sylvester; and officials of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, as well as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Adamu Balongu; Ojo Victor; Omeh Amarachukwu; and Wakili Saidu, who were allegedly posted to work with Adeyemi at the agency as witnesses.
Others are Joy Ngwoke, owner of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, and Ven Okoriko, pastor of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama.
The prosecution intends to tender the Police investigation report; a petition by Gbajabiamila, dated October 17, 2025; an alleged presidential appointment letter, dated March 8, 2024; 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 (CBN); 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 punishable under the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Penal Code.
