FAKE FEDERAL AGENCY: COURT DELAYS HEARING IN ADEYEMI FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS SUIT
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja remitted to its registry for reassignment a fundamental rights suit filed by the detained self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The court declined to proceed with the hearing, after establishing that the 72-hour period given to the respondents to show cause why Adeyemi’s remaining reliefs should be granted has not expired.
The matter, which came up before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, has been scheduled for the respondents to show cause in response to Adeyemi’s application.
At the proceedings, counsel for the applicant, Muhammad Abdulaziz, told the court that the respondents had been duly served and that the applicant was ready to proceed.
Counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mercy Akeredolu, was in court, while other respondents were absent.
Justice Egwuatu, however, queried the timing of the service and pointed out that the 72-hour period has not elapsed.
Justice Egwuatu thereafter remitted the case file to the registry for reassignment, directing the applicant to return when the respondents’ time has expired and the matter is ready to proceed.
The development followed an earlier order by the court directing the Inspector-General of Police, the Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation to show cause within 72 hours why Adeyemi’s remaining reliefs should not be granted.
The court had, however, granted one of the reliefs sought by Adeyemi, ordering the authorities to allow him access to lawyers of his choice at reasonable hours while he remains in custody.
In the application, Adeyemi is seeking six reliefs, including an order for his release from custody, bail pending the determination of the case and access to medical practitioners of his choice.
He also sought an order restraining the Police from interrogating him or obtaining a statement from him without his lawyer being present.
The court declined to grant the substantive reliefs on an ex parte basis, insisting that the respondents should first be given an opportunity to respond.
Adeniyi Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State in July after the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his repeated failure to appear for arraignment.
He is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation over his claim to be the Director-General of PFIPC, an organisation the Presidency has disowned as fake.
Adeyemi is expected to be arraigned on September 30, 2026, following an earlier order by Justice Mohammed Umar directing security agencies to arrest him and produce him in court after his repeated failure to appear.
