Nigerian Court Sets November 18 Arraignment in Expanded Adeyemi Case

Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday fixed November 18 for the arraignment of Adeniyi Adeyemi and four other defendants in an expanded corruption case. The proceeding could not go ahead because one defendant, Florence Omameh, was hospitalized, prosecution counsel Sylvanus Tahir told the court. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission increased the case from 22 to 36 counts. Tahir said the amended charge, filed on November 3, made the prosecution a joint trial of five defendants. The four added defendants are Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Omameh and Patricia Akhigbe. The allegations include official corruption, abuse of office, impersonation, conspiracy and gratification. Tahir said Omameh had received the amended charge and proof of evidence. He told the court: “Her unavailability in court has handicapped and constrained the prosecution from proceeding with the arraignment, this being a criminal charge.” Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, did not oppose the amendment or a short adjournment, but raised concern about his client’s continued detention. The court granted the adjournment. Adeyemi had been arraigned on October 29 on 22 counts alleging forgery, impersonation and fraud. Prosecutors accuse him of presenting himself as director-general of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, which they describe as a nonexistent government agency, and forging correspondence purporting to appoint him to that position. The judge ordered Adeyemi returned to Kuje Correctional Centre.