ICPC Turns Up Heat on Adeyemi, Expands Charges to 36; four more defendants join case

Anti-graft agency widens alleged fake presidential agency scandal as court adjourns arraignment till November 18

The corruption case against Adeniyi Adeyemi, accused of impersonating the head of a non-existent presidential agency, has taken a fresh turn, with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) increasing the charges against him from 22 to 36.

The commission has also brought four additional defendants into the case, bringing the total number of accused persons to five.

The new defendants are Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Florence Omameh and Patricia Akhigbe.

ICPC prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, disclosed the development on Monday before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

The case centres on allegations that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency allegedly without legal backing

The proceedings were initially scheduled for Adeyemi’s bail application. However, the amended charges required all five defendants to appear for fresh arraignment.

The exercise was stalled by the absence of the fourth defendant, Florence Omameh, who was reportedly indisposed and receiving medical attention.

Tahir told the court that her absence made it impossible to proceed with the joint arraignment, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act requiring defendants to be present during criminal proceedings.

Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the amended charges or the request for adjournment but raised concerns about his client’s prolonged detention.

Justice Halilu subsequently adjourned the case until November 18 for the arraignment of all five defendants.

The judge ordered that Adeyemi be returned to Kuje Correctional Centre, while the other defendants were directed to return to ICPC custody.

The defendants are yet to enter pleas to the amended 36-count charge.