Court refuses bail for PFIPC DG Adeniyi Adeyemi

The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to grant bail to Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), who is currently in police custody.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Adeyemi’s counsel, M.B. Abdulazeez, said the court could not determine the request for bail and other substantive reliefs without first hearing from the police and other respondents.

The judge, however, ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the police to ensure that Adeyemi has unrestricted access to his lawyers while in detention.

Adeyemi had approached the court seeking six orders, including his release on bail, access to medical care from doctors of his choice and protection from being interrogated or compelled to make or sign statements without his lawyer present.

He also asked the court to guarantee his access to legal practitioners of his choice at all reasonable times for as long as he remains in custody.

In an affidavit supporting the application, his elder brother, Adeniyi Adebola, said Adeyemi was unable to appear before a commissioner for oaths because of his detention.

The respondents in the suit are the AGF, Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

Adeyemi is separately facing criminal proceedings before Justice Mohammed Umar of the same court over allegations including forgery and impersonation.

The criminal case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, also lists two other defendants identified as “Femi Surname Unknown” and “Anu Surname Unknown.”

Justice Umar had in July issued a warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear for scheduled proceedings and subsequently fixed September 30 for his arraignment.

He was later arrested by the police and has remained in custody pending the arraignment.

At Thursday’s proceedings before Justice Egwuatu, counsel to Adeyemi urged the court to grant the reliefs contained in the ex-parte application. The judge, however, ruled that the requests for bail, medical treatment and other orders required the responses of the respondents before a decision could be reached.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently directed the respondents to explain within 72 hours why the remaining reliefs should not be granted and adjourned the matter until September 9 for them to show cause.

In the criminal proceedings, the prosecution is expected to call several witnesses, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Investigators have alleged that Adeyemi operated the purported PFIPC office from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja before his arrest.

The allegations against him remain subject to determination by the court.