ICPC Re-Arraigns Adeyemi Over Alleged N30.8bn Fraud

October 29, 2026 Quadri Olaitan

ICPC re-arraigns Adeyemi over an alleged N30.8bn fraud involving forged documents and a purported government agency. Trial is scheduled for November 9

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday, October 29, 2026, re-arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on 22 amended counts of alleged forgery, impersonation and fraud linked to a purported government agency and funding requests totalling approximately N30.8bn.

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Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The case has drawn attention to the verification of government appointments, public institutions and financial transactions.

The prosecution, led by counsel Fatima Bardi, alleged that Adeyemi used forged official documents to present the purported council as a legitimate Federal Government institution and secure recognition, office accommodation, administrative support and access to public-sector processes.

According to the amended charges, Adeyemi allegedly sought more than N27bn as a take-off grant for the council, alongside another N3.8bn for personnel costs.

The prosecution maintained that the requests were made despite the council lacking a valid legal foundation.

One of the central allegations concerns a letter dated March 8, 2024, bearing reference number SH/COS/209/A/3456 and purportedly signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The commission alleged that the document was forged to support Adeyemi’s claimed appointment as the council’s director-general and enable him to occupy office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, in Abuja.

Another count concerns a document addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation and captioned, “RE: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF SELF-ACCOUNTING STATUS”.

The prosecution alleged that the document was intended to facilitate the purported council’s entry into the government’s financial reporting framework.

Other charges relate to alleged correspondence with the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency in pursuit of a domain name for the organisation.

The amended charges also contain allegations of inducements involving two public officials.

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

In a separate allegation, the commission accused Adeyemi of offering N300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an official in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of two official vehicles, a Prado sport utility vehicle and a Land Cruiser.

The prosecution further alleged that Adeyemi obtained N20m from Oyekunle Gbenga, Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretence of a project facilitation loan.

The money was allegedly connected to a purported N2.8bn contract for furniture, electronics and refurbishment of the director-general’s official residence, which the commission said had been awarded by the non-existent council.

The alleged offences were said to have occurred between 2024 and 2026.

The charges cite 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, Bardi asked the court to fix a date for trial so that the prosecution could present its evidence.

However, defence counsel Ibrahim Angulu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made an oral application for bail, 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 reportedly been receiving treatment.

Justice Halilu Yusuf directed the defence to submit a formal written bail application before the court could consider the request.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to November 9, 2026, for the commencement of trial and possible consideration 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 to allow for amendment and refiling before the FCT High Court.

Adeyemi had previously appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 30, facing an eight-count charge relating to alleged forgery and impersonation.

The case originated from a petition by Gbajabiamila to the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service concerning the purported council and Adeyemi’s claim to head it.

In a public disclaimer issued on June 11, 2026, Gbajabiamila stated that the alleged organisation did not exist under the Tinubu administration and that his office had not appointed Adeyemi to the position.

The investigation subsequently widened beyond the appointment letter. Police inquiries reportedly uncovered correspondence between the purported council and several ministries, departments and agencies, while investigators traced multiple bank accounts allegedly connected to its activities.

In August, ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu presented an interim investigation report to President Tinubu, recommending Adeyemi’s prosecution and further scrutiny of public officials whose conduct might have enabled the purported organisation to operate.

Aliyu said the commission’s findings indicated that Adeyemi had not been appointed by the Federal Government or any authorised government institution and that the council had not been established by legislation, an executive order or another valid government instrument.

“Following the interim report, it has been established that Adeniyi Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authority of government,” Aliyu said.

The ICPC also reported uncovering two additional purported agencies allegedly linked to Adeyemi: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.

Investigators alleged that forged legislative documents were used to present the organisations as legitimate institutions and facilitate the opening of bank accounts.

The matter also attracted parliamentary scrutiny after the House of Representatives established an ad hoc committee to investigate the council’s status and its appearance in the 2026 federal budget.

The committee’s preliminary findings, reported in September, identified 58 bank accounts and 12 agencies or entities allegedly linked to Adeyemi.

The panel cautioned that identifying accounts and entities did not, by itself, establish that every account, transaction or organisation was unlawful.

An important distinction remains between the alleged funding requests and the actual movement of public money.

In its interim report, the ICPC said its investigation had found no evidence that Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to the purported PFIPC or its operators.

That finding does not resolve the separate allegations concerning forged documents, alleged inducements, private transactions or the operation of accounts linked to purported agencies.

Those matters remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.

The case has raised broader questions about how an organisation without a valid legal basis could allegedly engage with public institutions, seek substantial funding and pursue official facilities.

The investigation has also highlighted the importance of verifying appointments, authenticating government documents and strengthening coordination between public agencies.

For now, the proceedings remain at the charge stage. Adeyemi has denied the 22 allegations, and the prosecution is expected to present its evidence when the trial begins.