ICPC re-arraigns purported DG over alleged N30.8bn fraud
by Hassan Muaz · The Eagle OnlineThe Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, the purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, on 22 counts bordering on forgery, impersonation and fraud involving an alleged N30.8bn government funding request.
Adeyemi, who appeared before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecution alleged that he forged official government documents to portray the purported council as a legitimate government agency and secure official recognition, office facilities and billions of naira in public funds.
According to the amended charges, Adeyemi allegedly sought more than N27bn as a take-off grant for the council and an additional N3.8bn for personnel costs.
The commission accused him of using forged documents purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to establish his claimed position as the council’s director-general.
One of the charges alleged that Adeyemi forged a letter with reference number SH/COS/209/A/3456, dated March 8, 2024, which purportedly appointed him to head the council.
The prosecution said the document was allegedly prepared to appear genuine and enable him to occupy government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
Another count accused him of forging a document addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation and captioned “RE: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF SELF-ACCOUNTING STATUS”.
The commission alleged that the document was intended to enable the purported council to operate within the government’s financial reporting structure.
It further accused Adeyemi of forging correspondence addressed to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency to obtain a domain name for the purported agency.
The charges also alleged that he offered N210,000 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,” without official authorisation.
In another count, the prosecution accused Adeyemi of offering N300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an official in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of two official vehicles: a Prado SUV and a Land Cruiser SUV.
The commission further alleged that Adeyemi obtained N20m from Oyekunle Gbenga, Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretence of a “project facilitation loan”.
According to the prosecution, the money was connected to a purported N2.8bn contract allegedly awarded by the council for the procurement of furniture and electronics and the refurbishment of the director-general’s official residence.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred between 2024 and 2026.
The prosecution stated that the charges 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, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial to enable the commission to prove its allegations.
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However, defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, made an oral bail application, citing his client’s prolonged detention and health concerns.
Angulu told the court that Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had obtained a medical report from the police clinic where he was receiving treatment.
The trial judge, Justice Halilu Yusuf, directed the defence counsel to file a formal bail application.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until November 9 for the commencement of trial and possible hearing of the bail application.
The re-arraignment followed the withdrawal of the earlier charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, on October 12 for amendment and refiling before the FCT High Court.
Adeyemi had previously been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 30 on an eight-count charge involving allegations of forgery and impersonation.
The case followed a petition by Gbajabiamila to the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service over the purported council and Adeyemi’s claim to be its director-general.
Police investigations reportedly uncovered correspondence between the purported agency and several government ministries, departments and agencies.
Investigators also traced 34 bank accounts linked to the operation, including nine allegedly opened in the names of purported government agencies.
In July, President Bola Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the activities of the purported council, which the Presidency said had never been established by the Federal Government and had no legal basis.
The investigation was also expected to examine the use of allegedly forged documents, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the movement of funds and the possible involvement of public officers or other individuals.
Adeyemi has pleaded not guilty to the amended charges, and the allegations remain to be established in court.
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