ICPC files 36 fresh charges against fake agency DG, four others

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed 36 fresh charges against the embattled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeyemi Adeniyi, and four others over alleged forgery, impersonation and fraud.

The fresh charges were filed by the Federal Government following the withdrawal of an earlier eight-count case against Adeniyi.

Adeniyi and the other defendants appeared before Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday for their arraignment.

However, the proceedings could not continue due to the absence of the fourth defendant, Florence Omemah, who was reportedly receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Abuja.

Prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, informed the court of her condition and requested a seven-day adjournment to enable her to recover and appear for arraignment.

Counsel to Adeniyi, Ibrahim Angulu, urged the court to grant a shorter adjournment, saying his client had spent more than 200 days in detention and that he intended to pursue his bail application.

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

The judge also ordered that Adeniyi remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while the other defendants should be kept in ICPC custody.

The case revolves around allegations that Adeniyi established a fictitious federal agency known as the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and falsely presented himself as its director-general.

Investigators alleged that the agency had no legal backing and that Adeniyi forged appointment letters and signatures attributed to the Chief of Staff to the President to legitimise his purported appointment.

He was also accused of occupying offices previously used by the defunct Presidential Economic Advisory Council at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and allegedly holding unauthorised meetings with foreign diplomats.

The investigators further alleged that he sought official visa documentation for United States visas and operated 34 bank accounts.

According to the commission, Adeniyi exploited loopholes in the civil service system to secure a proposed N1.302bn allocation for the purported agency in the 2026 budget.

Fake agency: PFIPC DG denies forgery, impersonation allegations in court

Following an interim report presented to President Bola Tinubu, the ICPC reportedly uncovered two other allegedly fictitious agencies linked to Adeniyi: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency.

The commission also recommended disciplinary action against some public officials suspected of assisting the alleged scheme.

In October 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out the initial eight-count charge after the Attorney-General of the Federation withdrew the case following concerns over jurisdiction.

The ICPC subsequently filed the fresh 36-count amended charge, introducing additional defendants over their alleged involvement in the scheme.

Adeniyi has pleaded not guilty to the allegations of fraud, forgery and impersonation and remains in custody pending further proceedings.