The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-appointed director-general of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), on 22 counts of alleged forgery and impersonation before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court.

The fresh arraignment follows the striking out of an earlier eight-count charge against Adeyemi by a federal high court in Abuja on October 12.

The earlier charge was withdrawn after the Federal Government sought to terminate the proceedings, following a review by the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

The director of public prosecutions of the federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, had told the court that the review found that the alleged offences fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT high court, rather than the federal high court, where the police initially filed the charge.

The prosecution subsequently said a fresh charge had been filed before the FCT high court.

In the fresh charge, the ICPC accused Adeyemi of forging a letter dated March 8, 2024, purportedly signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, appointing him director-general of the PFIPC.

The commission alleged that Adeyemi used forged documents to present the non-existent agency as a legitimate government institution and gain access to government facilities and processes.

The charges also include allegations that he forged an executive order purportedly establishing the agency and a legislative instrument bearing the title of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and PFIPC.

The ICPC further accused him of forging a document addressed to the accountant-general of the federation seeking approval for the agency to operate within the government’s financial reporting structure.

Another allegation concerns documents purportedly sent to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to obtain a domain name for the agency.

The commission also alleged that Adeyemi obtained more than N27 billion to establish the purported agency and N3.8 billion for personnel costs by presenting forged documents to the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.

It further accused him of giving N210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an assistant chief technical officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to facilitate the allocation of office space without official authorisation.

The charge also alleges that he gave N300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of two official vehicles — a Prado sport utility vehicle and a Land Cruiser.

In another count, the commission accused Adeyemi of obtaining N20 million from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretence of a project facilitation loan for a purported N2.8 billion contract to furnish and renovate the official residence of the PFIPC director-general.

The alleged offences, said to have occurred between 2024 and 2026, are punishable under provisions of the Penal Code, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.

Adeyemi has denied all allegations while claiming that Gbajabiamila collected N400 million through a proxy for his appointment letter to the fictitious agency.

Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all the counts, after which Fatima Bardi, counsel for the ICPC, prayed the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State,  has described Thursday’s judgment by a federal high court on the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary in Imo West as a victory for the judiciary, democracy and the Nigerian constitution.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, held that the evidence before the court shows that Uzodimma did not win the APC Imo west senatorial district primary

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish the name of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

Okorocha had sued the ruling All Progressives Congress, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and others, seeking a declaration that he was the authentic party candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.

The APC had declared Uzodimma the winner of the senatorial primary, with 230,464 votes, a decision Okorocha challenged at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In the suit, Okorocha also asked the court to determine whether it was constitutional for Uzodimma to contest the 2027 senatorial election while still serving as governor, whose tenure is expected to end in January 2028.

Justice Egwuatu declared that Okorocha emerged as the lawful winner of the primary, which was monitored by INEC, and directed the APC to submit his name to the electoral commission as its candidate.

Reacting in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemodo, Okorocha described the judgment as a landmark decision.

Okorocha thanked President Bola Tinubu for “providing the enabling environment for the Judiciary and other Institutions to function for the nation’s rapid development and growth.”

He also commended the APC leadership for allowing party members to pursue their legitimate aspirations and constitutional rights.

The former governor expressed gratitude to the people of Imo State, particularly residents of Imo West Senatorial District, for their prayers, moral support and spontaneous celebrations following the judgment.

Okorocha also commended Uzodimma for being among the respondents in the case, describing his involvement in the proceedings as part of a historic judgment.

The former governor further expressed gratitude to God for what he described as a victory.

“This judgment, to say the least, is a resounding victory for the nation’s judiciary. It is a victory for the nation’s fast-growing democracy. It is an outstanding victory for the nation’s Constitution, as amended,” Okorocha said.

He added, “It is a remarkable victory for all lovers of what is right and haters of what is wrong. It is a notable victory for posterity and history. Finally, it is a victory for Imo people in general, and Imo West Senatorial District people in particular.”

The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has faulted the decision of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to reject the federal government’s N70,000 transport allowance for public sector workers, saying the action is improper.

Ajaero, who made the remarks while
speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday,  said officials of the TUC did not negotiate with the federal government on the subject.

Earlier on Wednesday,  TUC rejected the Federal Government’s transportation palliative for public service workers across all levels for six months.

The TUC, in a statement issued by its president, Festus Osifo, and Nuhu Toro, the secretary-general, said temporary wage awards were neither “sustainable” nor “far-reaching”.

The TUC went on to ask the Federal Government to increase workers’ salaries instead.

The Federal Government had on Tuesday announced the allowance in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) issued after a conciliation meeting between government representatives and NLC leaders in Abuja.

But reacting to the statement by TUC, Ajaero said the TUC should have negotiated its own terms with the federal government instead of rejecting what NLC negotiated.

The NLC president said the leadership of the TUC does not have the power to reject the agreement terms of a sister agency.

Ajaero said the Federal Government cannot implement an increase in workers’ salaries without going through the right processes.

“The agreement was not signed by TUC. You don’t kick against something you did not negotiate or ask for,” he said.

“I would have preferred a situation whereby if NLC was asking for one naira, TUC will be asking for 10 naira.

“TUC never asked for intervention as a result of the rising cost of transportation. On the issue of asking for wage increase, does the government gift wage increase? There must be a process put in place.

“I’m worried for some time now why you will say you reject something that was not given to you. That is not proper.

“You don’t have the power to reject what a sister agency negotiates. You have the power to ask for your own.”

The TUC and NLC have also repeatedly demanded for an increase in minimum wage.