FG Files Fresh 36-Count Charge Against PFIPC DG Adeyemi Adeniyi, Four Others; Arraignment Stalled by Co-Defendant's Illness

The Federal Government has filed a fresh 36-count amended charge against the embattled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeyemi Adeniyi, and four others over alleged forgery, false representation and fraud.

Adeniyi appeared with his co-defendants before Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday. However, their arraignment on the fresh charges could not proceed because the fourth defendant, Florence Omemah, was reportedly ill.

Prosecution counsel Sylvanus Tahir told the court that Omemah was receiving treatment at a hospital in Abuja, and asked for a seven-day adjournment to allow her to recover and appear to take her plea. Adeniyi's counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, urged the court to grant a shorter adjournment so that he could pursue bail for his client. He also told the court that Adeniyi had been in detention for more than 200 days.

In a brief ruling, Justice Yusuf adjourned the case until November 18 for the arraignment of all the defendants. He ordered that Adeniyi be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while the other defendants remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The case centres on allegations that Adeniyi set up a fictitious federal agency, the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, and falsely presented himself as its director-general. Investigators allege that the agency had no legal backing and that he forged appointment letters and signatures attributed to the Chief of Staff to the President to legitimise his position.

According to investigators, he occupied offices previously used by the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and allegedly held unauthorised meetings with foreign diplomats. He was also accused of seeking official documentation for United States visas and operating 34 bank accounts. They further allege that he exploited loopholes in the civil service system to secure a proposed ?1.302 billion allocation for the fictitious agency in the 2026 budget.

Following an interim report presented to President Bola Tinubu, the ICPC reportedly uncovered two other allegedly fictitious agencies linked to Adeniyi: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency. The commission also recommended disciplinary action against some public officials suspected of assisting the alleged scheme.

In October 2026, the court struck out the initial eight-count charge after jurisdictional concerns led the Attorney-General of the Federation to withdraw the case. The ICPC subsequently filed the fresh 36-count amended charge, bringing in additional defendants over their alleged involvement.

Adeniyi has pleaded not guilty to the allegations of fraud, forgery and impersonation. He remains in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre as the case proceeds.