The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expanded its case against Adeniyi Adeyemi, accused of presenting himself as the director-general of a purported presidential council, increasing the charges from 22 to 36 counts.
Four additional defendants — Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Florence Omameh and Patricia Akhigbe — have also been included in the amended charge.
ICPC prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the FCT High Court in Abuja of the amendment on Monday.
The development disrupted proceedings initially scheduled for the hearing of Adeyemi’s bail application. With the amended charge, the defendants were required to enter fresh pleas.
However, the arraignment could not proceed because Omameh was absent from court on health grounds. The other defendants were present.
Tahir told the court that her absence prevented the prosecution from taking the pleas, stressing that the defendants were required to be present for the criminal proceedings.
Relying on Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the prosecutor asked the court to grant a short adjournment to enable Omameh to recover and attend the next sitting.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the amended charge or the request for an adjournment. He, however, reminded the court that his client had spent a considerable period in detention.
Justice Yusuf Halilu adjourned the case until Nov. 18 for the arraignment of the defendants.
The judge ordered that Adeyemi be returned to the Kuje Correctional Facility, while the other defendants were directed to return to the ICPC detention facility.
The case was initially instituted by the Nigeria Police Force before the ICPC took over the prosecution.
The defendants are yet to enter pleas to the 36-count amended charge.
