ICPC re-arraigns Adeyemi over alleged N30.8bn fraud, forgery

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned the purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, on 22 counts of alleged forgery, impersonation and fraud involving a proposed N30.8bn government funding request.

Adeyemi appeared before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecution alleged that Adeyemi forged official government documents to present the purported council, which it described as non-existent, as a legitimate government agency.

According to the allegations, the documents were intended to secure official recognition for the council, obtain office facilities and access billions of naira in public funds.

According to the amended charges, Adeyemi allegedly sought more than N27bn as a take-off grant for the purported council and another 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, purportedly appointing him to head the council.

The prosecution said the document was allegedly prepared with the intention of making it appear genuine and enabling the defendant to occupy government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.

Another count accused Adeyemi 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 Adeyemi offered N210,000 to an Assistant Chief Technical Officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Aminu Abdullahi, “to facilitate the allocation of office space,” without official authorisation.

In another count, the prosecution accused him of offering N300,000 to an official in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Ogaba Harry, 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 the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Oyekunle Gbenga, 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 fictitious 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 been committed between 2024 and 2026.

The prosecution said the charges contravene 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, the prosecution counsel, Fatima Bardi, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial to enable the commission to prove its allegations.

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 had been receiving treatment.

The trial judge, Justice Halilu Yusuf, directed the defence counsel to file a formal bail application.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to 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. The allegations remain to be established in court.

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