Prosecution expands indictment from 22 to 36 counts, introducing four additional defendants as Adeyemi’s bail proceedings suffer another setback over the absence of an accused person.
By A1NEWS Reporter
Monday, November 9, 2026
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed a fresh 36-count amended charge against Adeniyi Adeyemi, accused of allegedly establishing and operating a fictitious government agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), alongside four additional defendants.
The amended charge, filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, represents the latest development in a criminal prosecution that has undergone multiple amendments since its commencement.
The latest development has also delayed Adeyemi’s anticipated bail proceedings, as the prosecution moves to arraign five defendants jointly over allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation, official corruption, criminal conspiracy and the unlawful receipt and giving of gratification.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, informed the court that the commission had expanded the previous 22-count charge to 36 counts, introducing four additional defendants into the proceedings.
The newly joined defendants are Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Florence Omameh and Patricia Akhigbe.
Tahir explained that the prosecution had decided to consolidate the allegations into a joint trial involving five defendants.
Fourth Defendant’s Absence Stalls Arraignment
Proceedings were unable to advance to the arraignment stage because the fourth defendant, Florence Omameh, was absent from court.
According to the prosecution, Omameh was experiencing health challenges and had been admitted to a hospital in Abuja.
Tahir informed the court that the ICPC had maintained contact with her and that she had been served with the amended charge alongside the accompanying proof of evidence.
He argued that her absence had created a procedural obstacle to proceeding with the arraignment of the defendants in a criminal trial.
“Her unavailability in court has handicapped and constrained the prosecution from proceeding with the arraignment, this being a criminal charge,” Tahir told the court.
Relying on Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the prosecution submitted that an accused person is generally required to be physically present throughout criminal proceedings, subject to the exceptions provided by law.
Consequently, Tahir requested a short adjournment to enable the absent defendant to recover and appear in court to take her plea.
Adeyemi’s Defence Raises Concern Over Prolonged Detention
Counsel to Adeyemi, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the amended charge or the prosecution’s request for an adjournment.
However, he drew the court’s attention to his client’s prolonged detention, reminding the judge that Adeyemi had remained in custody while the prosecution continued to make adjustments to the charges.
Adeyemi had been expected to proceed with his bail application at Monday’s sitting following his earlier arraignment.
However, the introduction of the amended 36-count charge and the addition of four defendants effectively displaced that expectation.
The development means that Adeyemi’s bail proceedings will have to await further progress in the arraignment process.
Court Orders Adeyemi’s Return to Kuje Correctional Facility
In his ruling, Justice Yusuf Halilu adjourned the matter until November 18, 2026, for the arraignment of the defendants.
The judge also directed that Adeyemi be returned to the Kuje Correctional Facility, where he had been held in custody.
The other defendants were ordered to return to the ICPC detention facility pending the next hearing.
The adjournment provides the prosecution additional time to ensure that all five defendants are available to enter their pleas to the amended charges.
Background: Allegations Involving N27 Billion Government Funding
The latest amended charge follows Adeyemi’s arraignment on October 29, 2026, when he was brought before the court over a previous 22-count indictment.
The ICPC accused him of allegedly forging official government documents, impersonating a public servant and obtaining more than N27 billion purportedly to establish and operate the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The commission further alleged that approximately N3.8 billion was sought or obtained for personnel-related expenses connected to the purported agency.
According to the prosecution, Adeyemi allegedly secured the funds through forged documents purportedly addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
The anti-corruption commission also accused him of forging documents bearing the purported signature of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appointing him as Director-General of the PFIPC.
The prosecution alleged that the documents enabled Adeyemi to present himself as the head of a legitimate government institution and occupy government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
Alleged Forgery of Government Financial and Administrative Documents
Among the allegations contained in the earlier charge was the purported forgery of a document addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The document, reportedly titled “RE: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF SELF-ACCOUNTING STATUS”, was allegedly intended to secure recognition for the PFIPC within the government’s financial reporting and accounting structure.
The commission further alleged that Adeyemi forged correspondence addressed to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in an attempt to obtain a domain name for the purported agency.
These allegations form part of the prosecution’s case that the defendants allegedly sought to create an appearance of official legitimacy for an organisation that the commission considers fictitious.
Alleged Payments to Government Officials
The ICPC also accused Adeyemi of allegedly offering financial gratification to public officers to facilitate access to government facilities and official resources.
According to the earlier charge, he allegedly gave N210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an Assistant Chief Technical Officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to facilitate the allocation of office accommodation.
He was also accused of allegedly giving N300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release and handover of two government-owned vehicles.
The vehicles were identified as a Toyota Prado SUV and a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV.
The prosecution maintains that the alleged payments were made without the requisite official authorisation and constituted acts of gratification intended to secure improper benefits.
New Charges Expand Scope of Alleged Criminal Conduct
The amended charge filed on November 3, 2026, reportedly retained the earlier allegations against Adeyemi while introducing additional offences and allegations involving the newly joined defendants.
The expanded indictment includes allegations of official corruption, abuse of office, receiving gratification, impersonation of a public servant and criminal conspiracy.
It also introduces allegations of giving gratification to public officers against Adeyemi.
The inclusion of the additional defendants suggests that the prosecution intends to establish the alleged roles of individuals who may have facilitated or benefited from the activities surrounding the purported agency.
However, the allegations remain matters for judicial determination, and the defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Legal Provisions Under Which Adeyemi Is Being Prosecuted
The offences contained in the earlier indictment were linked to provisions of the Penal Code, including Sections 364, 366 and 132 of the Penal Code, Cap. 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990.
The prosecution also cited Section 1(1)(a), punishable under Section 1(3), of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Additionally, provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, including Section 9(a), punishable under Section 9(b), were invoked.
At his October 29 arraignment, Adeyemi denied the allegations when the earlier charges were read to him.
The four additional defendants are expected to enter their pleas when the court proceeds with the arraignment under the latest amended charge.
November 18 Hearing Could Determine Next Direction of Trial
The ICPC’s latest decision to expand the indictment from 22 to 36 counts has significantly widened the scope of the proceedings against Adeyemi and the four additional defendants.
While the prosecution seeks to establish an alleged network of activities surrounding the creation and operation of the PFIPC, the defence has already drawn attention to Adeyemi’s continued detention and the need for the matter to progress.
The next hearing, scheduled for November 18, 2026, is expected to provide an opportunity for the defendants to enter their pleas, subject to their availability and the court’s directions.
Beyond the immediate criminal proceedings, the case raises important questions about the verification of government appointments, access to public facilities, the management of government resources and safeguards against the alleged impersonation of public institutions.
For now, the allegations remain unproven, and the final determination rests with the court.
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