ICPC arraigns fake agency DG over forgery, impersonation

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged Director-General of the fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), over forgery and impersonation.

Adeyemi was arraigned on a 22-count charge before Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

According to the prosecution, the defendant forged an official document referenced SH/COS/209/A/3456 on March 8, 2024.

The ICPC revealed that the letter, purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, was presented by the defendant to obtain government legitimacy for fraudulent activities.

The prosecution stated that the offence is punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Cap. 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

During the court session, the prosecuting counsel, Fatima Bardi, prayed the court to fix a date to open its case against the defendant.

In response, the defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, applied for an oral bail application, stressing that his client had spent 155 days in detention and required continuous medical attention from the police clinic.

The presiding judge, Justice Yusuf, directed the defence to file a formal written bail application and subsequently adjourned the matter until November 9 for trial.

This fresh arraignment comes barely two weeks after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out an earlier eight-count charge following a request by the Federal Government to transfer the prosecution to the FCT High Court.

Adeyemi was apprehended in Osun State on July 14 after failing to honour court summons regarding the operation of the illegal government agency, which operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.

The defendant had previously alleged that the Chief of Staff to the President received ₦400 million through a proxy to facilitate his appointment, a claim the presidency vehemently denied.

Following the controversy, President Bola Tinubu ordered the ICPC to launch a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

Addressing the findings, the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, confirmed that preliminary investigations revealed the purported appointment letter, gazette, and other operational documents used to establish the agency were entirely forged.