A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man at the centre of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) controversy, to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre. The remand order was issued on Wednesday, September 30, after Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge of conspiracy and forgery.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the remand order following the plea, as reported by The Nation. The charges were filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and also name two other suspects who are currently at large.
Court Adjourns Bail Application to October 12
After Adeyemi entered his plea, lead prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to keep him in custody and requested an accelerated hearing to ensure the case proceeds quickly. His defence counsel, Genesis Francis, pushed back, asking the court to hear a bail application on the same day, Wednesday, September 30.
Francis told the court that his client had a medical appointment on Friday for an undisclosed ailment he described as contagious. According to Channels TV, Oyedepo countered that qualified medical personnel and facilities are available both through the police and at the correctional centre.
Justice Umar declined to hear the bail application on Wednesday, citing the court's heavy schedule. The judge adjourned the matter to October 12 for both the bail application and the hearing of the substantive suit.
How the PFIPC Scandal Unfolded
The PFIPC controversy began when Adeyemi claimed to have served as the council's Director-General. Government authorities subsequently alleged that the council was never a legally established agency. During the ensuing scrutiny, Adeyemi allegedly admitted that his appointment was "purchased," claiming he paid N400 million through a middleman as part of a N600 million deal to secure the role.
The scandal widened considerably during a legislative probe. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation acknowledged that government documents had not been properly verified, while the House of Representatives said it uncovered a broader network involving 12 additional alleged fake government agencies, 58 bank accounts, and 39 government insiders.
The controversy also triggered a N15 billion lawsuit by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, against Adeyemi over alleged bribery.
President Tinubu's Directive and ICPC Investigation
President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on July 7, 2026, to investigate the council within 30 days. The ICPC concluded that Adeyemi's appointment letter was fraudulent and did not originate from the Presidency. Adeyemi was subsequently arrested by the Police Intelligence Response Team in Osun State.
The ICPC submitted its interim report in August 2026 and recommended his prosecution, paving the way for the charges now before the Federal High Court.
Atiku Reacts to ICPC Report
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar rejected the interim report by the ICPC on the alleged fake PFIPC, saying it does not amount to a clean bill of health for the presidency. The opposition leader's senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, issued the statement on Atiku's behalf.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, argued that the report itself recorded evidence of negligence and connivance within government circles, which he said made it impossible to conclude that only one person was responsible for the alleged operation.
The case is now set for October 12, when the court will hear the bail application and the substantive suit, with Adeyemi remaining in Kuje Correctional Centre until then.
