Court Makes Fresh Move In Adeyemi’s Rights Case Over Alleged Fake Agency

A Federal High Court in Abuja has returned a fundamental rights suit filed by Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), to the court registry for reassignment after the judge found a proof of service filed by his legal team to be incompetent.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu took the decision after discovering that the proof of service presented by Adeyemi’s lawyer had not been sworn before a commissioner for oaths.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Adeyemi, who is currently in police custody, had approached the court seeking several orders, including his release on bail and permission to receive medical treatment from doctors of his choice.

He also asked the court to restrain the police and their agents from interrogating him or compelling him to make or sign any statement without his lawyer present. In addition, he sought unrestricted access to his legal representatives throughout the period of his detention.

The respondents in the suit include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

Justice Egwuatu had earlier declined to grant Adeyemi’s requests on an ex-parte basis, ruling that the police and other respondents should be given an opportunity to respond to the claims. The court subsequently ordered that Adeyemi be allowed access to his lawyers and directed the respondents to show cause why the reliefs sought should not be granted.

However, proceedings were delayed after Adeyemi’s legal team was unable to establish that the respondents had been properly served. The matter was consequently adjourned for further consideration.

When the case came up again, Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ademola Oyedokun, informed the court that the respondents had been served in line with its directive and that he was prepared to proceed.

The court registrar confirmed that the proof of service and the order to show cause had been served on the respondents on September 8. The hearing notice for the subsequent proceedings was also confirmed to have been served on September 9.

Justice Egwuatu, however, examined the proof of service and discovered that it had not been sworn before a commissioner for oaths. The judge consequently ruled that the document was incompetent.

Adeyemi’s lawyer acknowledged the defect and requested a short adjournment to enable him to correct the error. The judge, however, noted that the respondents were still within the period allowed to respond to the court’s order, which had only been served on September 8.

The judge also took note of the impending end of the court’s vacation before directing that the case file be returned to the registry for reassignment.

Adeyemi is also facing a separate criminal case instituted by the police over allegations bordering on forgery and impersonation. The case is before Justice Mohammed Umar of another Federal High Court in Abuja, with his arraignment scheduled for September 30.

The criminal proceedings followed allegations that Adeyemi operated the purported PFIPC from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and presented himself as the head of an agency whose legal status has been disputed by government authorities.

Police arrested Adeyemi after Justice Umar issued a warrant following his failure to appear for a scheduled proceeding. The allegations against him remain subject to determination by the court.