A fundamental rights suit filed by Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), was stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday over a defective proof of service.
Adeyemi is seeking his release from police custody, bail and
permission to obtain medical treatment from health practitioners of his choice.
He is also asking the court to restrain the police and other
agents from interrogating him or compelling him to make, adopt or sign any
statement except in the presence of a lawyer of his choice.
The suit was filed against the attorney-general of the
federation (AGF), inspector-general of police (IGP), Nigeria Police Force and
an assistant inspector-general of police as first to fourth respondents
respectively.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Ademola Oyedokun appeared for
Adeyemi, while Mercy Akeredolu represented the AGF. No lawyer appeared for the
police.
Oyedokun told the court that the matter was scheduled for
the respondents to show cause why the reliefs sought by Adeyemi should not be
granted.
He said the respondents had been served in line with the
court’s directive and that he was ready to proceed.
The registrar confirmed that the proof of service and the
order to show cause had been served on the respondents on September 8.
However, when Obiora Egwuatu, presiding judge, asked whether
the hearing notice for Thursday’s proceedings had also been served, the
registrar confirmed that it was served on September 9.
Egwuatu then examined the proof of service and observed that
it had not been sworn to before a commissioner for oaths.
The judge described the document as “incompetent”.
When the court file was shown to Oyedokun, he conceded that
the proof of service was defective and asked for a short adjournment to enable
him to correct the process.
Egwuatu, however, said the respondents were still within
time to respond to the order to show cause, which had only been served on
September 8.
The judge also noted that the court’s vacation was nearing
its end and directed that the case file be returned to the registry for
reassignment.
At a previous court session on September 3, Egwuatu had
declined to grant Adeyemi’s request for bail and medical treatment without
hearing from the respondents.
The court, however, ordered the police to allow Adeyemi
unhindered access to his lawyers and directed the respondents to show cause why
the other reliefs sought should not be granted.
The case could not proceed on Wednesday because of an issue
with service on the respondents.
Adeyemi is currently in police custody in connection with a
criminal case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, in which he is facing allegations
including forgery and impersonation before Mohammed Umar, judge of the same
court.
Umar issued an arrest warrant for Adeyemi in July 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.
Prosecutors alleged that Adeyemi forged an appointment
letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by Femi
Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff, among other official documents.
Adeyemi has denied the allegations and maintained that the
council exists.
The police charge lists Adeyemi, “Femi Surname Unknown” and
“Anu Surname Unknown” as the first to third defendants.
The prosecution has listed several witnesses in the criminal
case, including Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, as well as
officials of the Office of the accountant-general of the federation.
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