By John Azu
A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused a bail application filed by the self-styled Director-General of the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, on Thursday, declined to grant the application, citing the need for the Nigeria Police Force to respond to the circumstances surrounding Adeyemi’s arrest and detention.
Justice Egwuatu ruled that it would be in the interest of justice and fair hearing for the application, which was filed by way of an ex parte application, to be served on the police by Adeyemi’s lawyer, Mohammed Abdulazeez, to enable the authorities respond.
The judge, however, granted Adeyemi’s request for unhindered access to his lawyers to enable him prepare his defence in any charge that may be brought against him.
Adeyemi is currently in police custody after he was arrested in Osun State about two months ago.
The detainee had sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Nigeria Police Force and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police as the first to fourth respondents respectively.
In the suit, filed by another lawyer, Ademola Oyedokun, Adeyemi sought six reliefs from the court.
He prayed the court to admit him to bail, order his release from detention and permit him to seek medical attention from health practitioners of his choice over his alleged ill health.
He also sought an order restraining the police or any of their officers or agents from interrogating him or directing him to make, adopt or sign any statement except in the presence of a legal practitioner of his choice.
Adeyemi further sought “an order that, for so long as the applicant remains in custody, the police should allow him access to legal practitioners of his own choosing at all reasonable hours.”
In his affidavit, Adeyemi’s elder brother, Adeniyi Adebola, stated that the detainee was unable to depose to the affidavit before a commissioner for oaths because of his detention.
Meanwhile, the police are prosecuting Adeyemi in a criminal case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025 over allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation and related offences before another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar.
Justice Umar had, in July, issued an arrest warrant against Adeyemi following his failure to appear for scheduled proceedings.
The judge subsequently fixed September 30 for his arraignment.
Adeyemi was charged in an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery of official documents alongside two other defendants, identified as Femi and Anu, who are said to be at large.
The prosecution listed several witnesses in the case, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.
Other witnesses listed are civil servants in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, including Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police.