ICPC files amended charge against Adeyemi, adds four civil servants
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has submitted amended charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to serve as the director general of the nonexistent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
During a court session, prosecution counsel Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, informed the court that the ICPC has increased the number of charges from 22 to 36.
The revised charges involve four additional defendants: Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Florence Omameh, and Patricia Akhigbe.
The case was initially brought forward by the Nigerian police.
On Monday, a hearing originally scheduled to address Adeyemi’s bail application was delayed due to the amendment of the charges, which now require all defendants, including Adeyemi, to formally enter their pleas. However, this process could not proceed as the fourth defendant, Omameh, was absent due to health reasons. The other defendants were present in court.
Tahir explained to the court that Omameh’s absence limited the prosecution’s ability to move forward with the arraignment, citing Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which mandates a defendant’s presence during their trial, subject to certain exceptions.
He requested a brief adjournment to allow Omameh time to recover and enter her plea. Adeyemi’s attorney, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not contest the amended charges or the request for an adjournment but noted Adeyemi’s extended period of detention.
Justice Yusuf Halilu subsequently adjourned the proceedings until November 18 for the arraignment of all suspects. He ordered that Adeyemi be returned to Kuje Correctional Facility, while the other defendants should be taken back to the ICPC detention facility.
