PFIPC scandal: Court throws out Adeyemi’s bail, medical attention requests

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to grant bail and medical attention to the detained Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.

The judge made the decision while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Adeyemi.

Instead, Justice Egwuatu ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to allow Adeyemi access to his lawyers.

The court also directed the IGP, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the AGF to explain within 72 hours why the other reliefs sought by Adeyemi, including his bail request, should not be granted.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter until September 9 for the respondents — the IGP, NPF and AGF — to show cause.

Following an application by the police on July 14, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, issued a bench warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest.

The police later claimed, also on July 14, to have arrested the alleged “fake DG” at his hideout in Osun State.

The police have, since November 27, 2025, filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi, accusing him of alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.

The development is the latest in the controversy surrounding the disputed PFIPC, which the Presidency has described as a fictitious government agency.

The controversy intensified after Adeyemi publicly presented himself as the council’s Director-General and alleged that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, issued appointment letter to him.

The Presidency subsequently disowned the council, saying no such agency existed under the Bola Tinubu administration. It also alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment documents, impersonated a government official and fraudulently sought official recognition and diplomatic support.

The controversy was further heightened by the discovery that an entity described as the “Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Bill with an allocation of about ₦1.303 billion. The House of Representatives subsequently launched a probe into how the disputed body came to be included in the budget.

Adeyemi was arrested by the police in Osun State on July 14 after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his failure to appear for arraignment.

He was billed to take his plea on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation. The charges include allegations that he forged presidential letter-headed papers, falsely represented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and forged documents purportedly emanating from the State House.

The matter has also triggered separate investigations by the House of Representatives and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). In August, the ICPC submitted an interim report to President Tinubu and recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution, saying its preliminary findings indicated that he was never appointed by the Federal Government and that documents allegedly used to establish the agency were forged.

The ICPC said investigations were continuing to identify other alleged collaborators and build a stronger criminal case.

Meanwhile, the House committee investigating the disputed agency has also heard allegations concerning Adeyemi’s activities. A businessman, Gbenga Collins, told the committee in August that he paid ₦400 million to Adeyemi to facilitate the award of a contract.

Adeyemi has previously denied wrongdoing and maintained that he was prepared to defend himself in court.

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