PFIPC: Adeyemi Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ as FG Takes Over Prosecution

The Federal Government has taken over the prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following his arraignment on an eight-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all eight counts when the charges were read and explained to him before Justice Mohammed Umar on Wednesday.

The defendant was asked by the court whether he understood the allegations against him. After confirming that he did, Adeyemi responded “not guilty” to each of the eight charges.

The allegations against him include conspiracy, forgery and impersonation, particularly over documents allegedly presented as official documents from the State House and other government institutions.

Following the plea, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, who appeared for the prosecution, informed the court that Adeyemi was now set to face trial.

“In view of the not guilty plea by the defendant, he is due to have put himself for trial,” Oyedepo said.

Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, further disclosed that he was handling the case on the directive of the Attorney-General of the Federation. His appearance marked the formal takeover of the prosecution by the Federal Government from the Nigeria Police Force, which had initially filed the charges.

The prosecution subsequently asked the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case, citing the significant public interest surrounding the allegations.

Oyedepo also requested that Adeyemi be remanded in prison custody pending the conclusion of the trial.

However, the application was opposed by the defendant’s lawyer, Genesis Francis, who informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on Adeyemi’s behalf.

Francis said the application was filed on January 12 and served on the prosecution, which had subsequently filed its response.

The latest development follows the Federal Government’s decision to assume control of the case originally instituted by the police against Adeyemi and two other suspects identified in the charge sheet as Femi and Anu.

The eight-count charge was initially filed on November 27, 2025, with the surnames of Femi and Anu listed as “unknown”. The two individuals were also described in the charge sheet as being at large.

According to the allegations contained in the charge, the three suspects allegedly conspired to forge documents and present them as having originated from the State House.

One of the allegations concerns an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The police further alleged that Adeyemi and the other suspects forged presidential letter-headed papers and other official-looking documents, including a request for collaboration with a ministry concerning land requisition and office facilities across the 36 states.

Other documents mentioned in the charges include a request for office accommodation and a request for approval concerning staff account status.

Another count alleges that Adeyemi, sometime between 2024 and 2025, falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The eighth count relates to an alleged forged conveyance approval concerning the commencement of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

PulseNets learnt that the case arose from complaints surrounding the activities of the purported agency, which the Presidency had previously said was not an authorised government institution.

The Presidency had disclosed that Gbajabiamila alerted the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force in October 2025 after receiving complaints concerning the activities of the purported organisation.

Also Read: PFIPC: Adeyemi Offers to Surrender to DSS as Tinubu Orders ICPC Probe into Alleged Fake Agency Controversy

It was further alleged that appointment letters bearing Gbajabiamila’s signature, official reference numbers and government seals were forged and used in an attempt to give legitimacy to the purported agency.

Adeyemi’s not guilty plea means the allegations will now be tested through the judicial process as the Federal Government proceeds with the prosecution.