The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the Attorney-General of the Federation to grant the detained purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, unimpeded access to lawyers of his choice.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu made the order on Thursday while ruling on an ex parte application filed in a fundamental-rights enforcement suit instituted by Adeyemi.
The court, however, declined to immediately order his release or grant his requests for bail and access to medical practitioners of his choice without first hearing from the respondents.
Instead, Justice Egwuatu directed the IGP, the police and the AGF to show cause within 72 hours why the remaining reliefs sought by Adeyemi should not be granted.
The matter was adjourned until September 9, 2026, for the respondents to appear and explain why the court should not grant the outstanding applications.
Adeyemi, through his lawyer, M.B. Abdulazeez, sought six reliefs, including an order directing the respondents to release him from custody and admit him to bail pending the determination of the fundamental-rights suit.
He also asked the court to grant him access to medical practitioners of his choice and restrain the police from interrogating him or obtaining statements from him without his legal representatives being present.
Among the reliefs sought was an order directing the respondents to permit him unimpeded access to legal practitioners of his choice at reasonable hours for as long as he remained in custody.
Justice Egwuatu granted the request relating to access to lawyers but deferred consideration of the applications for release, bail and medical attention until the respondents had been heard.
The court also directed Adeyemi to serve the originating processes and other relevant documents in the suit on the respondents to enable them to file their responses.
Adeyemi has reportedly remained in custody since his arrest in Osun State in July following a bench warrant issued by another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja over his failure to appear for arraignment.
Justice Mohammed Umar had issued the bench warrant on July 14 and subsequently fixed September 30 for Adeyemi to take his plea in an eight-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.
The charge, filed by the police on November 27, 2025, borders on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation arising from Adeyemi’s claim that he was appointed Director-General of the PFIPC.
He was also accused of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and allegedly using purported official documents bearing falsified signatures, reference numbers, seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms.
He was also accused of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and allegedly using purported official documents bearing falsified signatures, reference numbers, seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms.
Among the individuals reportedly listed as prosecution witnesses are the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and some civil servants in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Adeyemi has denied the allegations and maintained that the PFIPC was validly established. He has also called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the council’s inclusion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The Presidency has disowned the council and denied establishing it, while the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission reportedly described it as unauthorised and recommended the prosecution of persons connected with its operations.
A House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the controversy has also said its preliminary findings uncovered 58 bank accounts and 12 agencies or entities allegedly connected to Adeyemi.
The committee further reported that it found no valid legislation or presidential directive establishing the PFIPC and alleged that documents presented in support of Adeyemi’s appointment were not genuine.