The Federal Government has opened a new phase in its prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man accused of presenting himself as the Director-General of a presidential agency that authorities say was never legally established.
The development followed the withdrawal of an earlier eight-count criminal case against Adeyemi at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Prosecutors told the court that fresh charges had been filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, where the government intends to continue proceedings over alleged forgery and impersonation.
Why Federal Government Withdrew Earlier Charges
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed Justice Mohammed Umar that the Attorney-General of the Federation had reviewed the case and identified legal problems with the earlier prosecution.
According to Oyedepo, the review showed that the alleged offences involving disputed official documents should be heard by the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
He consequently asked the judge to discontinue the proceedings, explaining that a fresh case had already been instituted before the appropriate court.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, raised no objection to the application.
Justice Umar subsequently struck out the charges, bringing the proceedings before the Federal High Court to an end.
The ruling did not amount to an acquittal or a finding that the allegations against Adeyemi were false. The prosecution said it intended to arraign him again before the FCT High Court.
How Adeyemi Became Involved in the Alleged Fake Agency Case
The controversy centres on the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the Presidency says has no lawful authority to operate as a federal government agency.
Investigators accused Adeyemi, 38, of presenting himself as its Director-General and relying on allegedly falsified official documents to obtain recognition from government institutions.
The police originally filed an eight-count charge on November 27, 2025, under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.
The proceedings named Adeyemi and two other individuals identified as Femi and Anu, whose surnames were not provided in the original charge.
Both co-defendants were reported to be at large.
The allegations included forgery, impersonation and related offences arising from activities carried out in the name of the disputed council.
Gbajabiamila Listed Among Prosecution Witnesses
Court documents from the earlier case identified the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, as a potential prosecution witness.
Other listed witnesses included government officials and individuals allegedly connected with the operations of the purported organisation.
The prosecution’s documentary evidence included an appointment letter dated March 8, 2024, which investigators alleged was forged, alongside official correspondence concerning financial arrangements and the proposed establishment of the council.
Investigators also examined communications relating to requests for government recognition, office accommodation and dealings with financial institutions.
Authorities alleged that Adeyemi operated from office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, despite the Presidency’s position that the council did not legally exist.
The inclusion of Gbajabiamila on the witness list does not mean he was charged with an offence in the case.
Tinubu Ordered Investigation Into Disputed Council
The case attracted wider public attention after the Presidency publicly disowned the PFIPC in June 2026.
Gbajabiamila issued a formal disclaimer on June 11, stating that his office had not appointed Adeyemi and that the purported council was not recognised under President Tinubu’s administration.
Adeyemi challenged that position, maintaining that his appointment was genuine and calling for an independent examination of the dispute.
As the controversy intensified, President Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on July 7 to investigate the organisation’s activities and the circumstances surrounding its alleged government recognition.
The investigation covered disputed appointment letters, financial documentation, the use of government facilities and possible failures in official verification procedures.
ICPC Findings Raised Questions About Government Oversight
In August 2026, the ICPC reported that its preliminary investigation had found no valid legal instrument establishing the PFIPC or authorising Adeyemi’s appointment.
The anti-corruption commission recommended prosecution and called for administrative action against public officials whose conduct or negligence may have enabled the purported organisation to operate.
The case also raised questions about how an entity disputed by the Presidency came to be associated with federal government offices and budget documentation.
The Budget Office of the Federation confirmed that approximately ₦1.3 billion had been appropriated under a budget entry associated with the council.
However, officials maintained that the allocation was not released or spent because the necessary financial authorisations had not been completed.
The controversy consequently drew attention to weaknesses in document verification, inter-agency coordination and public financial administration.
Adeyemi Denies Wrongdoing
Adeyemi has disputed the allegations against him and previously maintained that he was legitimately appointed to lead the organisation.
During a July interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he said he was prepared to defend himself through the judicial process.
His position has remained at odds with the Presidency’s insistence that the council lacks legal standing.
On September 30, Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge before Justice Umar, who ordered his remand at Kuje Correctional Centre.
The Attorney-General of the Federation’s office had taken over the prosecution from the police.
With the earlier proceedings now terminated, attention turns to the new case filed at the FCT High Court.
The next significant development will be Adeyemi’s fresh arraignment and the precise allegations contained in the new charge.
The allegations against Adeyemi remain subject to judicial determination, and no conviction was established by Monday’s ruling.
