The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to allow detained Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi access to his lawyers.
Adeyemi, who describes himself as the Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, has been in police custody since July over allegations linked to the purported agency.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, however, declined to order his release from custody pending the conclusion of investigations.
Instead, the judge directed Adeyemi to serve copies of his fundamental rights enforcement suit on the police and the attorney general, giving them an opportunity to respond.
The court ordered the Inspector-General of Police, the police and the attorney general to show cause within 72 hours why the reliefs sought by Adeyemi should not be granted.
Adeyemi had asked the court for six reliefs, including an order for his release on bail pending the conclusion of the case against him.
He also sought access to medical practitioners of his choice and an injunction preventing the police from interrogating him or obtaining a statement from him without his lawyers present.
The court granted his request for access to legal representation but declined to grant the other reliefs until it hears from the respondents.
The case was adjourned until Sept. 9 for the respondents to show cause.
The court had on July 14 issued a bench warrant that led to Adeyemi’s arrest at his hideout in Osun state.
Although he has not been charged over the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council controversy, Adeyemi is facing an existing eight-count charge filed by the police on Nov. 27, 2025.
Justice Mohammed Umar has fixed Sept. 30 for his plea in the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, which involves allegations of forgery, fraud and impersonation.
The police have accused Adeyemi of forging appointment letters and other official documents to create the impression that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was a legitimate federal government agency.
An interim police investigation report said the investigation began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on Oct. 17, 2025, over alleged forgery of official appointment letters.
The police said preliminary findings showed that the documents contained falsified signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms.
Adeyemi was identified as the principal suspect and allegedly operated from an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
He has denied the allegations and disputed the claim that the council was nonexistent.
Before his arrest, Adeyemi told Channels Television from his hideout that he had stayed away from public view because of threats to his life.
He also alleged that he paid 400 million naira through a proxy to the president’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to secure his appointment as director-general of the disputed council.
Adeyemi said people from whom he borrowed the money had subsequently petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He has also called for an independent, multi-stakeholder panel to investigate the controversy surrounding an alleged 1.3 billion naira budget allocation for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, Adeyemi said he was willing to provide documentary evidence and cooperate with investigators if an independent panel was established.
He proposed that the panel include representatives of civil society groups, the Nigerian Bar Association, independent media organizations, international financial institutions, human rights groups and diplomatic missions, alongside the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Meanwhile, one of the people allegedly linked to the controversy, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, was reported to have died in a hotel fire in Abuja.
Adeyemi described Tanimola as a key intermediary and said the circumstances surrounding his death contributed to his decision to remain out of public view.
The police charge against Adeyemi includes allegations that he forged presidential letterhead and a request for collaboration with the Ministry of Works on land requisition and offices across the 36 states.
He is also accused of falsely impersonating the director-general of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
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