Fake agency: Court denies Adeyemi's bail request but grants access to lawyers

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation to allow the detained self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, access to his lawyers.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Thursday while ruling on a fundamental rights suit filed on Adeyemi’s behalf.

However, the judge declined to grant his requests for release, bail, and medical treatment access without first hearing from the respondents.

The court directed the IGP, police, and the AGF to show cause within 72 hours why the remaining reliefs Adeyemi seeks should not be granted, and scheduled the matter for September 9, giving the respondents time to respond.

Adeyemi had sought six reliefs, including an order for the respondents to release him from custody and grant him bail pending case resolution.

He also requested access to medical practitioners of his choosing and an injunction stopping police from interrogating him or taking statements without his lawyer present.

Additionally, relief six in his ex parte application asked for “an order that, for so long as the applicant remains in custody, the respondents do permit the applicant unimpeded access to legal practitioners of his choice at all reasonable hours.”

The court approved this, directing that Adeyemi be allowed to meet his lawyers at reasonable hours while in custody.

Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State in July after the Federal High Court, Abuja, issued a bench warrant due to his failure to appear for arraignment.

He faces an eight-count charge involving alleged forgery, fraud, and impersonation related to his claim to be the Director-General of the PFIPC, an agency the Presidency has disowned as “fake.”

Prosecutors allege that Adeyemi forged an appointment letter supposedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, along with other official documents. Adeyemi denies the allegations, asserting that the council exists.

Earlier, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered security agencies to arrest and produce him in court on September 30 for arraignment after he repeatedly failed to appear.