Adeyemi appeared before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecution alleged that he forged official government documents to present the purported council as a legitimate government agency in a bid to obtain official recognition, office accommodation, vehicles and billions of naira in public funds.
According to the amended charges, Adeyemi allegedly sought more than ₦27bn as a take-off grant for the purported council and an additional ₦3.8bn to cover personnel costs.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed between 2024 and 2026.
The ICPC accused Adeyemi of using forged documents purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to establish his claimed appointment as the council’s director-general.
One of the charges alleged that Adeyemi forged a letter with reference number SH/COS/209/A/3456, dated March 8, 2024, which purportedly appointed him to head the council.
The prosecution alleged that the document was created to make it appear genuine and enable him to occupy government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
Another charge accused Adeyemi of forging a document addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation with the heading, “RE: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF SELF-ACCOUNTING STATUS”.
According to the commission, the alleged forgery was intended to enable the purported council to operate within the government’s financial reporting structure.
The defendant was also accused of forging correspondence addressed to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency to obtain a domain name for the alleged agency.
The commission further alleged that Adeyemi offered ₦210,000 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 accommodation without official authorisation.
In another count, the prosecution accused him of offering ₦300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an official 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 SUV.
The allegations form part of the commission’s case that Adeyemi sought to use the purported council’s claimed government status to secure official resources and facilities.
The ICPC also alleged that Adeyemi obtained ₦20m from Oyekunle Gbenga, Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, under the pretence of a “project facilitation loan”.
According to the prosecution, the money was connected to a purported ₦2.8bn contract allegedly awarded by the fictitious council for furniture and electronic equipment procurement and the refurbishment of the director-general’s official residence.
The allegations have yet to be established in court.
Following Adeyemi’s plea, prosecution counsel Fatima Bardi urged the court to schedule the case for trial, saying the commission was prepared to prove its allegations.
However, defence counsel Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, made an oral application for bail, citing his client’s prolonged detention and health concerns.
Angulu told the court that Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had obtained a medical report from the police clinic where he had been receiving treatment.
The trial judge, Justice Halilu Yusuf, directed the defence counsel to file a formal bail application.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case to November 9 for the commencement of trial and possible consideration of the bail application.
Adeyemi remains entitled to the presumption of innocence until the allegations against him are proved in court.
The re-arraignment followed the withdrawal of the earlier charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, on October 12 for amendment and refiling before the FCT High Court.
Adeyemi had previously been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 30 on an eight-count charge involving allegations of forgery and impersonation.
The case reportedly followed a petition by Gbajabiamila to the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service over the purported council and Adeyemi’s claim to be its director-general.
Police investigations reportedly uncovered correspondence between the purported agency and several government ministries, departments and agencies.
Investigators also reportedly traced 34 bank accounts linked to the operation, including nine allegedly opened in the names of purported government agencies.
In July, President Bola Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate the activities of the purported council. The Presidency reportedly stated that the Federal Government had never established the council and that it had no legal basis.
The investigation was also expected to examine the alleged use of forged documents, the opening and operation of related bank accounts, the movement of funds and any possible involvement of public officers or other individuals.
The latest charges represent an expansion of the allegations against Adeyemi, who has denied all 22 counts.
The case is scheduled to resume on November 9, when the court is expected to proceed with the trial and may consider a properly filed bail application.
