The (*22*) Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi l on 22 contemporary counts bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and associated offences over his purported declare to the place of Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Adeyemi was arraigned on Thursday earlier than the FCT High Court in Abuja, the place he pleaded not responsible to all the costs.
The contemporary arraignment adopted the placing out of an earlier eight-count cost towards him by the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 12, after the Federal Government sought to discontinue the proceedings following a overview by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, had knowledgeable the courtroom that the overview established that the alleged offences fell inside the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court, moderately than the Federal High Court, the place the police initially filed the costs.
The prosecution subsequently filed a contemporary 22-count cost earlier than the FCT High Court.
In the brand new cost, the ICPC alleged that Adeyemi solid a letter dated March 8, 2024, purportedly signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, appointing him as Director-General of the PFIPC.
The fee accused Adeyemi of utilizing solid paperwork to painting the purported council as a reliable authorities establishment and acquire entry to authorities services and official processes.
Other allegations embrace forging an government order purportedly establishing the council and a legislative instrument titled the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC.
The ICPC additionally accused him of forging a doc addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation to hunt approval for the purported company to function inside the authorities’s monetary reporting construction.
Another rely pertains to paperwork allegedly submitted to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to acquire a site identify for the council.
The fee additional alleged that Adeyemi used solid paperwork, introduced to the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, to hunt greater than N27 billion for the institution of the purported company, in addition to N3.8 billion for personnel prices.
In separate counts, the ICPC accused Adeyemi of providing monetary inducements to 2 authorities officers to facilitate entry to authorities sources.
According to the fee, he allegedly gave N210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an assistant chief technical officer within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to facilitate the allocation of workplace house with out official authorisation.
He was additionally accused of giving N300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an officer within the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the discharge of a Prado sport utility automobile and a Land Cruiser.
The fee additional alleged that Adeyemi obtained N20 million from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, underneath the pretence of a venture facilitation mortgage.
The cash was allegedly linked to a purported N2.8 billion contract to furnish and renovate the official residence of the PFIPC director-general.
The alleged offences reportedly occurred between 2024 and 2026 and are punishable underneath related provisions of the Penal Code, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
Adeyemi has denied the allegations. He has additionally individually accused Gbajabiamila of amassing N400 million via a proxy in reference to the appointment letter. The allegation stays Adeyemi’s declare and has not been established by the costs outlined earlier than the courtroom.
Following Adeyemi’s plea, ICPC counsel, Fatima Bardi, requested the courtroom to repair a date for the graduation of trial.
However, defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, made an oral bail utility, prompting the presiding choose, Halilu Yusuf, to direct him to file a proper written utility.
Angulu agreed to adjust to the directive however urged the courtroom to schedule an early listening to, citing his shopper’s extended detention and well being issues.
The defence counsel advised the courtroom that Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and possessed a medical report from the police clinic the place he had acquired therapy.
The choose subsequently adjourned the case till November 9 for trial and potential listening to of the bail utility.
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