CITIZENS COMPASS— Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), is set to defend a man, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who alleged Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of N400m bribery.
Recall that Adeyemi is the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Citizens Compass reported that he alleged that Gbajabiamila, received N400 million through a proxy and demanded an additional N200 million to secure his appointment as the head of the government agency.
Adeyemi alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded 48% of his agency’s take-off grant of N27.4 billion. He further claimed that Gbajabiamila received N400 million through a proxy to secure him the appointment, with an outstanding balance of N200 million.
He challenged the Presidency to conduct an independent panel, demanding that Gbajabiamila produce all official documents signed since taking office for forensic examination.
However, the Presidency on Wednesday mounted a robust defence of Gbajabiamila, releasing a detailed account of investigations it claimed exposed Adeyemi as the operator of a fictitious presidential agency months before he accused the presidential aide of corruption.
The State House said records from the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Nigeria Police Force showed that Adeyemi was never appointed by President Tinubu or any government authority but allegedly forged official documents to present himself as Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has filed an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against Adeyemi over allegations of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and the use of forged presidential documents.
Adeyemi has insisted that he is the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), but the government has described the agency as non-existent.
Sources told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that Falana will represent Adeyemi in court.
The charge, filed in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, also listed two other suspects identified only as Femi and Anu, whose surnames were not provided. The two co-defendants are said to be at large.
According to the charge sheet, Adeyemi of the 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja, allegedly conspired with the two suspects to forge several official State House and presidential documents.
The prosecution, in Count One, alleged that the defendants conspired to commit forgery.
The charge reads: “That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ 38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, on or about 8th day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit forgery and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2)(c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.”
In Count Two, the Federal Government alleged that the defendant forged a presidential appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The prosecution further alleged in Count Three that the defendants forged official presidential letterheaded papers.
The Federal Government also accused the defendants of forging a request for collaboration involving the Ministry of the Area of Land Requisition and offices across Nigeria’s 36 states.
In Count Five, the prosecution alleged that the defendant falsely presented himself as the Director General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council between 2024 and 2025.
The prosecution further alleged in Count Six that the defendants forged a request for office space purportedly issued from the State House.
In Count Seven, the Federal Government alleged that the defendants forged a request seeking approval of staff account status purportedly issued by the State House.
In Count Seven, the Federal Government alleged that the defendants forged a request seeking approval of staff account status purportedly issued by the State House.
In the final count, the prosecution accused the defendants of forging a conveyance approval relating to the re-takeoff of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
