Court orders legal access for detained PFIPC DG

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to allow Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), access to his lawyers.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Thursday while ruling on a fundamental rights suit filed by Adeyemi.

However, the court refused to grant Adeyemi’s requests for release, bail and access to medical treatment at this stage.

The judge said the applications could not be granted without first hearing from the respondents.

Egwuatu directed the IGP, the police and the AGF to show cause within 72 hours why the remaining reliefs sought by Adeyemi should not be granted.

The judge adjourned the case until September 9 for the respondents to show cause.

Adeyemi had sought six reliefs, including an order directing the respondents to release him from custody and grant him bail pending the determination of the suit.

He also sought permission to access medical practitioners of his choice and an order restraining the police from interrogating him or obtaining a statement from him without his lawyer present.

In his ex parte application, Adeyemi specifically sought an order directing that, while he remains in custody, he be allowed “unimpeded access to legal practitioners of his own choosing at all reasonable hours”.

The court granted the request, directing that Adeyemi be allowed to meet his lawyers at reasonable hours while in custody.

Adeyemi was picked up in Osun state in July after a federal high court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his failure to appear in court for arraignment.

He is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation over his claim to head the PFIPC, an organisation the federal government has disowned.

Prosecutors alleged that Adeyemi forged an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff, among other official documents.

Adeyemi has denied the allegations and maintained that the council exists.

The case comes amid an investigation by a house of representatives ad hoc committee into the PFIPC following the inclusion of the organisation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The committee said in its preliminary report that it found no valid act of the national assembly or presidential order establishing the PFIPC.

The panel also said it found no evidence that Gbajabiamila signed Adeyemi’s purported appointment letter, describing the document as fabricated and falsely attributed to the presidency.

The committee further said it uncovered 58 bank accounts and 12 agencies and entities linked to Adeyemi.

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