TD ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly paraded himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), in the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Adeyemi, 38, was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Umar on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
He pleaded not guilty to all eight counts.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, was initially filed by the police in November 2025 against Adeyemi and two other suspects who are currently at large.
Alleged forged presidential appointment
According to the prosecution, Adeyemi and his alleged collaborators forged documents purporting to emanate from the Presidency between 2024 and 2025.
One of the central allegations is that Adeyemi used a purported appointment letter claiming that President Bola Tinubu had appointed him Director-General of the PFIPC.
The document allegedly carried the name and signature of the President’s then Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The prosecution further alleges that Adeyemi forged presidential letterhead and other documents relating to office accommodation, staff deployment, land allocation and requests for collaboration with government institutions.
One count specifically accuses him of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council between 2024 and 2025.
Court declines immediate bail hearing
Following Adeyemi’s plea, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, asked the court to remand him in custody.
His defence counsel, Genesis Francis, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and was ready for hearing.
Justice Umar, however, declined to hear the bail application immediately, citing the volume of matters before the court.
The judge consequently ordered Adeyemi’s remand at Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until October 12, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and further proceedings.
How the controversy began
The PFIPC controversy intensified after Adeyemi publicly presented himself as the council’s Director-General.
The Presidency subsequently said the purported organisation was not established or authorised by the Federal Government.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was later directed to investigate the matter.
In an interim report submitted to President Tinubu in August, the ICPC said its preliminary investigation found that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government or any government authority and that PFIPC had not been created by law, executive order or another valid government instrument.
The commission also said documents allegedly used to support the purported appointment and existence of the organisation were forged.
Disputed budget allocation
The controversy was further complicated by the appearance of the purported organisation in Nigeria’s 2026 budget framework.
Reuters reported that the alleged agency obtained office space inside the Federal Secretariat and was associated with a budget allocation of approximately $1 million, while also allegedly attempting to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The development triggered a legislative investigation into how an organisation that the Presidency said it had not established or authorised could appear within government financial and administrative structures.
House panel clears Gbajabiamila
The House of Representatives committee investigating the controversy previously said it found no evidence that Gbajabiamila authorised, established or participated in the activities of the purported PFIPC.
The committee said documentary evidence showed that the Chief of Staff took steps to alert security and investigative agencies after concerns about the organisation were brought to his attention.
It also concluded that the appointment document purportedly bearing his authority was fabricated.
Adeyemi denies wrongdoing
Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and maintained in previous statements that the PFIPC was legitimate.
He has also disputed the government’s position concerning the organisation and said he was prepared to defend himself in court.
The criminal proceedings will now determine whether the prosecution can establish its allegations against him.
The next major development is expected on October 12, when the court is scheduled to hear his bail application and continue proceedings in the case.
