ICPC Re-Arraigns Fake DG Adeyemi Over N30.8Billion Fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly posed as the director-general of a non-existent government agency, on 22 counts involving forgery, impersonation and fraud linked to a purported N30.8billion funding request.

Adeyemi appeared before the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The commission alleged that he used forged government documents to present the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council as a legitimate agency and secure official recognition, office accommodation and billions of naira in public funds.

According to the amended charges, Adeyemi allegedly requested more than N27billion as a take-off grant for the purported council, alongside N3.8billion for personnel expenses.

The ICPC accused him of relying on documents purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to support his claim to the director-general position.

One of the charges alleged that Adeyemi forged a letter dated March 8, 2024, with reference number SH/COS/209/A/3456, which purportedly appointed him to head the council. Prosecutors said the document was intended to appear authentic and enable him to occupy office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.

Another count accused him of forging a letter to the Accountant-General of the Federation seeking approval for the purported council to operate under a self-accounting arrangement.

The commission also alleged that Adeyemi forged correspondence to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency to obtain a domain name for the organisation.

Other charges relate to alleged attempts to secure government facilities through payments to public officials. The prosecution accused Adeyemi 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.

He was also accused 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 SUV and a Land Cruiser SUV.

In a separate allegation, the ICPC claimed Adeyemi obtained N20million from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the guise of a project facilitation loan.

The prosecution linked the money to a purported N2.8billion contract allegedly awarded by the council for furniture and electronic equipment, as well as the renovation of the director-general’s official residence.

The alleged offences were said to have occurred between 2024 and 2026. The commission accused Adeyemi of violating 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 his plea, prosecution counsel Fatima Bardi asked the court to schedule the commencement of the trial so the commission could present its case.

Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, 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 custody and had obtained a medical report from the police clinic where he had been receiving treatment.

The presiding judge, Justice Halilu Yusuf, directed the defence to submit a formal bail application before adjourning the case to November 9 for trial proceedings and possible consideration of the bail request.

The re-arraignment followed the withdrawal of the earlier charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, on October 12 for amendment and refiling before the FCT High Court.

Adeyemi had previously appeared before the High Court in Abuja on September 30 to answer an eight-count charge involving 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 lead it.

Police investigations reportedly uncovered correspondence between the organisation and several government ministries, departments and agencies.

Investigators also traced 34 bank accounts allegedly connected to its operations, including nine said to have been opened in the names of purported government agencies.

In July, President Bola Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the council’s activities. The Presidency maintained that the organisation had never been established by the government and had no legal basis.

The investigation was expected to examine the alleged use of forged documents, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the movement of funds and possible involvement by public officials or other individuals.

Adeyemi has denied the charges by pleading not guilty. The allegations remain before the court and have yet to be proven.