A fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), was on Thursday sent back to the registry for reassignment.
Adeyemi, who is currently in police custody, had sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Nigeria Police Force and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police as the first to fourth respondents.
Through his lawyer, Ademola Oyedokun, Adeyemi is seeking six reliefs before the Federal High Court in Abuja, including an order granting him bail and releasing him from police custody.
He also asked the court to allow him access to medical care from health practitioners of his choice, as well as restrain the police and their agents from interrogating him or compelling him to make or sign any statement except in the presence of his lawyer.
Adeyemi further sought an order granting him unhindered access to his legal practitioners at all reasonable hours for as long as he remains in custody.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu had on September 3 declined to grant his request for bail and access to medical practitioners of his choice.
The judge, while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Adeyemi’s lawyer, Muhammad Abdulazeez, held that the respondents needed to be heard in the interest of fair hearing.
However, the court granted Adeyemi’s request for unhindered access to his lawyers and ordered the respondents to show cause why the remaining reliefs should not be granted.
The matter could not proceed on Wednesday because the respondents had not been properly served, prompting the court to adjourn it to Thursday.
When the case was called on Thursday, only Abdulazeez and counsel to the AGF, Mercy Akeredolu, were present. No lawyer appeared for the police.
Abdulazeez told the court that all the respondents had been served as directed and that he was ready to proceed with the matter.
The registrar confirmed that the proof of service and the order to show cause were served on the respondents on September 8.
However, Justice Egwuatu asked the registrar to confirm whether the hearing notice for Thursday’s proceedings had also been served.
After the registrar confirmed that it was served on September 9, the judge examined the proof of service and observed that it had not been sworn before a commissioner for oaths.
Justice Egwuatu consequently described the proof of service as “incompetent”.
When the document was shown to Abdulazeez, the lawyer admitted the defect and requested a short adjournment to enable him to correct it.
The judge, however, noted that the respondents were still within the period allowed to respond to the order to show cause, which was served on September 8.
He also noted that the court vacation was nearing its end and ordered that the case file be returned to the registry for reassignment.
Meanwhile, the police are prosecuting Adeyemi in a separate criminal case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025 over allegations including forgery and impersonation before Justice Mohammed Umar of the same Federal High Court.
Justice Umar had in July issued a warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear for scheduled proceedings and subsequently fixed September 30 for his arraignment.
Adeyemi was later arrested by the police and has remained in custody pending his arraignment.
The other defendants in the criminal case are listed as “Femi Surname Unknown” and “Anu Surname Unknown”.
The prosecution has listed several witnesses, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Investigators allege that Adeyemi operated the purported agency from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja before his arrest.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
What do you think about this?
Drop your opinion in the comment section.
FOLLOW US & Share this with someone who needs to see this.
