PFIPC scandal: Adeyemi arraigned, pleads not guilty to eight charges

The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man accused of creating and operating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adeyemi, 38, pleaded not guilty to all eight counts bordering on alleged forgery and impersonation after the charges were read to him before Justice Mohammed Umar.

The defendant confirmed that he understood the charges before responding “not guilty” to each count.

Following his plea, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation had directed the ministry to take over the case from the Nigeria Police Force, which originally instituted the charges.

Oyedepo said the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation would review the facts and case file but urged the court to accept the existing charge and proceed with the arraignment.

He subsequently asked the court to grant an accelerated hearing, citing the high level of public interest surrounding the case.

The prosecution also requested that Adeyemi be remanded in custody pending the conclusion of the proceedings.

However, Adeyemi’s lawyer, Genesis Francis, informed the court that the defence had already filed a bail application on January 12.

Francis said the application had been served on the prosecution, which had also filed a response. He reportedly relied on grounds including the defendant’s alleged ill health.

Justice Umar consequently ordered Adeyemi’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of the bail application.

The court fixed October 12 and 13 for the hearing of the bail application and further proceedings in the case.

The case stems from allegations that Adeyemi operated the purported PFIPC and presented documents suggesting that the organisation had official presidential backing.

The police charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, lists Adeyemi, “Femi Surname Unknown” and “Anu Surname Unknown” as the first to third defendants.

One of the counts alleges that Adeyemi, alongside the other defendants, forged an appointment letter on or about March 8, 2024, purporting to show that he had been appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The alleged appointment letter was said to have been signed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The prosecution alleges that the document was forged and that its creation and use constituted an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Adeyemi had previously failed to appear for scheduled proceedings, prompting the Federal High Court to issue an arrest warrant following an oral application by police counsel, Wisdom Madaki.

The alleged PFIPC has been at the centre of controversy following the Presidency’s denial that the organisation was an officially established government body.

Adeyemi has challenged that position and accused the Chief of Staff of making conflicting statements regarding the purported PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

He has also called for an independent investigation into the two organisations and alleged that money was demanded in connection with his purported appointment.

Adeyemi claimed that N400 million was paid through intermediaries and that a further N200 million was allegedly requested. The claims have not been substantiated.

He has also questioned references to the PFIPC and PEAC in the 2026 Appropriation Act, arguing that their appearance in the legislation raised questions about the government’s assertion that the bodies did not officially exist.