By David Lawani
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has declined an ex-parte request for bail by the detained self-styled Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The court also declined to immediately grant Adeyemi’s request for medical attention but ordered the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation to show cause within 72 hours why the reliefs sought by the applicant should not be granted.
Justice Egwuatu, however, directed the police and the AGF to grant Adeyemi access to his lawyers and adjourned the matter until September 9.
Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation in a controversy surrounding the PFIPC, which the Presidency has described as a fictitious government agency.
The court development is the latest setback for Adeyemi, whose activities have triggered investigations by the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the House of Representatives.
Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State on July 14 following a bench warrant issued by another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Mohammed Umar, after he allegedly failed to appear for arraignment.
Police had filed the eight-count charge against him in November 2025, accusing him of forging documents and falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC.
The controversy began after Adeyemi publicly claimed to be heading the council and alleged that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, issued him an appointment letter.
The Presidency subsequently disowned the PFIPC, maintaining that no such agency existed under the Bola Tinubu administration and alleging that documents used to establish its purported existence were forged.
The matter took a fresh dimension after an entity described as the “Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Bill with an allocation of about ₦1.303 billion, prompting the House of Representatives to launch an investigation.
The ICPC also investigated the controversy and, in an interim report submitted to President Bola Tinubu in August, reportedly recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution after preliminary findings indicated that he was never appointed by the Federal Government.
The commission said investigations were continuing to identify other alleged collaborators.
Meanwhile, the House committee probing the disputed agency has uncovered alleged financial activities linked to Adeyemi, including claims by a businessman, Gbenga Collins, that he paid ₦400 million to facilitate a contract.
Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and maintained that he is prepared to defend himself against the allegations.
The latest ruling leaves the alleged “fake DG” in custody as the Federal Government prepares to respond to his application for bail and other reliefs.
