Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, PFIPC, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.
Adeyemi, 38, was brought before Justice Mohammed Umar on Wednesday and faced an eight count charge filed over his alleged activities involving the purported government council.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The Federal Government alleges that Adeyemi and two other suspects, who are currently at large, forged presidential appointment letters and other official documents to create the impression that the PFIPC was an authorised government institution.
One of the allegations concerns an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Prosecutors also accused Adeyemi of using forged presidential letterheads and other documents to seek government cooperation, office accommodation, land allocation and other official support for the purported council.
The prosecution further alleges that Adeyemi operated an office for the purported agency within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and presented himself to government institutions as its Director General.
Following his plea, the prosecution requested that he be remanded in custody pending trial.
His lawyer, Genesis Francis, asked the court to consider his client’s bail application, arguing that it had already been filed and that Adeyemi had a medical appointment scheduled for Friday.
The prosecution opposed an immediate release, arguing that adequate medical facilities were available at the correctional centre to attend to his health needs.
Justice Umar declined to hear the bail application immediately and ordered Adeyemi’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The court adjourned the matter until October 12, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and continuation of the substantive trial.
The case has generated controversy because of the alleged operation of the purported council from a government complex and claims that official documents were used to give the organisation an appearance of legitimacy.
Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and has maintained that the PFIPC was legitimate. He has also made allegations concerning the circumstances surrounding his purported appointment, which have been denied by those he accused.
The government, however, maintains that the council was not an authorised federal government agency and that documents allegedly used by Adeyemi were forged.
The court proceedings will determine the validity of the allegations as the prosecution begins presenting its case and the defence challenges the charges.
Adeyemi remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by the court.
