The detained self-styled Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant him bail and allow him access to his lawyers and a doctor of his choice.
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Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who heard the case on Thursday, directed the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation to allow Adeyemi access to his legal representatives.
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However, the judge declined to order his release from custody at this stage, saying the respondents should first respond to the fundamental rights suit filed by Adeyemi.
The court directed Adeyemi to serve copies of his application on the police and the AGF and ordered the respondents to explain within 72 hours why the reliefs sought should not be granted. The matter was adjourned until September 9.
Adeyemi has been in detention since July following his arrest in Osun State. He had approached the court through his lawyers seeking six orders, including his release on bail pending the conclusion of proceedings against him.
He also asked to be allowed to consult medical practitioners of his choice and sought an order preventing the police from questioning him or taking further statements from him without his lawyers being present.
The court granted the request concerning access to legal counsel but deferred a decision on the other applications until the police and the AGF respond.
Adeyemi was arrested after the court issued a bench warrant on July 14. The Federal Government has not yet charged him specifically over the PFIPC controversy, but he already faces an eight-count criminal charge filed by the police in November 2025.
The existing case involves allegations of forgery, fraud and impersonation. Justice Mohammed Umar has fixed September 30 for Adeyemi to enter his plea.
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The prosecution is expected to call several witnesses, including the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and a police officer.
The PFIPC controversy centres on allegations that Adeyemi used forged government documents to portray the council as a legitimate Federal Government institution. Police investigations reportedly began after a petition from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President in October 2025.
Investigators alleged that some of the documents contained forged signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms and were used in connection with appointments into the purported council.
Adeyemi has denied the allegations and maintained that the PFIPC existed. Before his arrest, he spoke to Channels Television from an undisclosed location and said he had stayed away from public view because of alleged threats to his life.
He also alleged that he paid N400 million through a proxy to Gbajabiamila to secure his appointment as Director-General of the council. Gbajabiamila has been named among those expected to testify in the separate criminal case.
Adeyemi has also called for an independent investigation into the controversy, including allegations surrounding the reported N1.3 billion allocation for the PFIPC in the 2026 budget.
He proposed that representatives of civil society groups, the Nigerian Bar Association, media organisations, human rights bodies, diplomatic missions, financial institutions, the EFCC and ICPC should participate in such an investigation.
The case has attracted further attention following the death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, whom Adeyemi described as an important intermediary in the matter. Tanimola was reportedly among individuals linked to the alleged scheme and died in a hotel fire in Abuja.
Adeyemi is also accused in the pending criminal case of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and forging official documents purportedly issued by the Presidency. The allegations remain before the court and have not been established as facts.
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