ICPC Amends Charges Against Fake PFIPC DG Adeniyi Adeyemi to 36 Counts

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission updated its legal filings concerning Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly posed as the head of a non-existent federal body. The number of counts rose from 22 to 36, and four additional individuals were brought into the matter.

Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Florence Omameh, and Patricia Akhigbe were named as the new co-defendants in the joint proceeding. This procedural change prevented the scheduled commencement of the trial and the hearing of the primary defendant's bail application at the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

ICPC lawyer Sylvanus Tahir explained to Justice Halilu Yusuf that the revised indictment was submitted on November 3. According to the prosecution, the fourth defendant could not attend because she was receiving medical treatment in a hospital.

Tahir stated, “Her unavailability in court has handicapped and constrained the prosecution from proceeding with the arraignment, this being a criminal charge.” He invoked Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to request a brief postponement.

Adeyemi's legal representative, Ibrahim Angulu, raised no objections to the updated charges or the adjournment request. Justice Halilu Yusuf subsequently moved the proceedings to November 18 for the formal plea taking of all five individuals.

The judge directed that Adeyemi be sent back to the Kuje Correctional Centre. Meanwhile, the remaining co-defendants were ordered to return to the detention facility operated by the ICPC.