FG Files Fresh 36-Count Amended Charge Against Adeyemi Adeniyi, Four Others
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expanded its corruption case against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, filing an amended 36-count charge and bringing four civil servants into the case as additional defendants.
The amended charge increases the number of counts previously filed against Adeyemi from 22 to 36, significantly widening the scope of the prosecution.
At Monday’s court proceedings, prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, informed the court that Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Florence Omameh and Patricia Akhigbe had been joined as co-defendants in the amended charge.
The case was initially instituted by the Nigeria Police before the ICPC subsequently took over the prosecution.
Although Monday’s sitting was originally scheduled for the hearing of Adeyemi’s bail application, the filing of the amended charge changed the course of proceedings, making it necessary for all five defendants to appear in court for arraignment and enter their pleas.
However, the planned arraignment suffered a setback following the absence of the fourth defendant, Florence Omameh, who reportedly could not attend court due to health reasons. The other four defendants were present.
Explaining the situation, Tahir told the court that Omameh’s absence had prevented the prosecution from proceeding with the arraignment.
“Her unavailability in court has constrained the prosecution from proceeding with the arraignment, this being a criminal charge,” he stated.
Relying on Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the prosecution counsel urged the court to grant a short adjournment, stressing that an accused person is generally required to be present throughout criminal proceedings, except where the law provides otherwise.
Tahir appealed for additional time to allow Omameh to recover and appear in court so that all five defendants could take their pleas together.
Counsel to Adeyemi, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not object to the amended charge or the prosecution’s request for an adjournment. However, he raised concerns over what he described as his client’s prolonged detention.
After listening to the parties, Justice Yusuf Halilu adjourned the matter until November 18 for the arraignment of all five defendants.
The judge further directed that Adeyemi be returned to the Kuje Correctional Facility pending the next hearing, while the other defendants were ordered to return to the ICPC detention facility.
All five defendants are expected to enter their pleas to the amended 36-count charge when proceedings resume on November 18.
