By Our Reporter
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi over alleged forgery, impersonation and the diversion of billions of naira through a purported government agency known as the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Adeyemi was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Halilu Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on a 22-count charge.
The commission alleged that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as a public servant and obtained more than ₦27 billion to establish the purported agency, alongside another ₦3.8 billion allegedly obtained for personnel costs.
The defendant, who has been in detention since July 14, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
According to the prosecution, Adeyemi allegedly forged documents purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, which he used to claim that he had been appointed Director-General of the PFIPC.
The ICPC alleged that the documents enabled him to occupy government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
The commission further accused him of forging a document addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to facilitate the acquisition of funds for the purported agency.
Another alleged forged document, addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation and titled “RE: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF SELF-ACCOUNTING STATUS”, was reportedly intended to enable the PFIPC to operate within the government’s financial reporting structure.
The prosecution also alleged that Adeyemi forwarded forged documents to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to obtain a domain name for the purported organisation.
The charge also accused Adeyemi of making unauthorised payments to two government officials to facilitate access to public resources.
According to the ICPC, he allegedly gave ₦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.
He was also accused of giving ₦300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an official in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release and handover of two government vehicles — a Toyota Prado SUV and a Land Cruiser SUV.
The commission alleged that the offences were committed between 2024 and 2026.
In another count, Adeyemi was accused of obtaining ₦20 million on July 29, 2025, from Oyekunle Gbenga, Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretext of a project facilitation loan.
The prosecution alleged that the money was connected to a purported ₦2.8 billion contract awarded by the alleged non-existent agency for the procurement of furniture and renovation of the official residence of its supposed director-general.
The ICPC said the alleged offences 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, requested a date for the commencement of trial.
However, his lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, made an oral application for his client’s release on bail pending the determination of the case.
Angulu told the court that Adeyemi had spent more than 155 days in detention and that his health had deteriorated significantly.
Justice Yusuf declined to entertain the oral application and directed the defence counsel to file a formal written application.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until November 9 for the commencement of trial and possible hearing of the bail application.
The arraignment comes after the Federal High Court in Abuja, on October 12, struck out an earlier eight-count charge filed against Adeyemi by the Nigeria Police Force.
That case was terminated following its withdrawal by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Adeyemi will now face the 22-count charge brought by the ICPC, with the allegations yet to be proven in court.