Karnataka court raps KPSC chief, voices concern over ‘future administrators’

On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Police Force to allow Adeniyi Adeyemi, connected to the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, unrestricted access to his preferred legal representatives at any reasonable time.

Justice Obiora Egwatu ruled in favor of Adeyemi's lawyer, M.B. Abdulazeez, Esq., following an application for fundamental rights relief. Earlier, a criminal charge led to an arrest warrant for Adeyemi in July, with his arraignment set for September 30. Police arrested him on the same day, and he appeared in a civil proceeding where his brother testified about his detainment and ill health.

Justice Egwatu granted six reliefs, but held that granting bail, release from detention, and medical care required hearing from the respondents first. However, Relief 6, mandating the AGF and police to provide Adeniyi access to his chosen lawyers, was granted. The court gave the AGF and police a 72-hour deadline to explain why other reliefs shouldn't be approved, fixing September 9 for the respondents to respond.

The Nigeria Police Force had planned to arraign Adeyemi over forgery, impersonation, and related offenses. He allegedly ran an agency from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja. The case stems from a dispute over the existence of the alleged PFIPC, which Adeyemi challenged after claiming N400 million was paid through intermediaries and an additional N200 million was requested.

Despite these claims not being substantiated, the PFIPC controversy caused significant national attention when President Tinubu ordered a forensic audit of government systems following findings of ghost workers and fake agencies.