The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday September 30, ordered the remand of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director-General of the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the order on Wednesday after Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge filed by the police over alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences. The court said he would remain in custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the AGF had taken over the case from the police and would review the facts and charges. He requested an accelerated hearing, citing the public attention the matter had generated.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Genesis Eyibo, said a bail application filed in January was already ripe for hearing. He also told the court that his client had a communicable illness, but the judge declined to hear the bail application immediately because of other matters before the court.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to October 12 and 13 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial. Justice Umar also ordered that Adeyemi be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the proceedings.
The court had earlier, on July 14, ordered Adeyemi’s arrest following his failure to appear for arraignment. President Bola Tinubu had also directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the alleged fictitious agency, with the commission subsequently concluding its investigation.
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