Court remands alleged fake government agency chief in Kuje prison
A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded Adeniyi Adeyemi in Kuje Correctional Centre after he pleaded not guilty to eight charges involving alleged conspiracy and forgery. The court deferred his bail application and adjourned the case until October 12, while prosecutors seek an accelerated hearing.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of falsely presenting himself as director-general of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council. Justice Mohammed Umar made the order after Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge alleging conspiracy and forgery. Two other people named in the charges are said to be at large.
The prosecution, led by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, asked for an accelerated hearing and urged the court to keep Adeyemi in custody while the case was determined. His defence counsel, Genesis Francis, asked the court to hear a bail application on Wednesday. Francis told the court that Adeyemi had a medical appointment on Friday for an unspecified contagious ailment.
Lead prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo responded that police medical personnel could attend to him and that facilities were available at the correctional centre. Justice Umar declined to hear the bail application immediately, citing the volume of cases before the court. He ordered that Adeyemi remain in custody and adjourned the matter until October 12 for the bail application and the substantive suit.
The case concerns Adeyemi’s claim to have served as director-general of the council, which authorities have alleged was not a legally established government agency. Adeyemi allegedly said his appointment had been “purchased” and claimed to have paid ₦400 million through an intermediary as part of a ₦600 million arrangement. The controversy has also led to a ₦15 billion lawsuit by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over alleged bribery.
A legislative probe identified what the House of Representatives described as a wider network involving additional alleged fake agencies, bank accounts and government insiders. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission said Adeyemi’s appointment letter was fraudulent and did not originate from the Presidency. After he allegedly went into hiding, police arrested him in Osun State.
The ICPC later recommended prosecution.
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