The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged director-general of a purportedly fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

The ICPC charged Adeyemi with 22 counts of alleged forgery and impersonation.

The commission alleged that, on or about March 8, 2024, in Abuja, the defendant forged a document referenced SH/COS/209/A/3456, purportedly signed and issued by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appointing him as director-general of the PFIPC.

The prosecution said the alleged offence was punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code, Cap. 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja), 1990.

The ICPC further alleged that Adeyemi presented the forged document to obtain government recognition and legitimacy to facilitate his fraudulent activities.

Counsel for the ICPC, Fatima Bardi, urged the court to fix a date for the prosecution to open its case against Adeyemi.

Defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), made an oral application for the defendant’s bail.

The trial judge, Justice Halilu Yusuf, however, directed Angulu to file a formal written bail application.

Angulu agreed but informed the court that Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had some health concerns.

He said he was in possession of a medical report from the police clinic where his client had been receiving treatment.

Justice Yusuf subsequently adjourned the matter until November 9 for trial and possible hearing of the defendant’s bail application.

The arraignment came two weeks after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed against Adeyemi by the Federal Government.

Justice Umar struck out the case following a request by the Federal Government and on the understanding that the defendant would be transferred to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for fresh arraignment.

Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State on July 14 after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his arrest for failing to honour the court’s summons.

He is alleged to be the mastermind behind the purportedly fake PFIPC, which operated as a government agency, maintained office space at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, and allegedly recruited staff without legal backing.

Adeyemi had alleged that Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, received ₦400m through a proxy to facilitate his appointment as head of the purported agency. Gbajabiamila has denied the allegation.

Following the controversy, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the matter.

When the commission submitted its interim report to the President, its chairman, Musa Aliyu, said preliminary findings showed that Adeyemi had never been appointed by the Federal Government.

Aliyu also said the purported appointment letter, gazette, and other documents used to establish the agency were forged.