Court returns PFIPC Director-General case file for reassignment amid detention dispute

The fundamental rights case instituted by detained self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has taken a fresh turn, with the Federal High Court in Abuja returning the case file to the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment.

The development occurred Thursday after Justice Obiora Egwuatu declined to proceed with the substantive hearing, holding that the 72-hour period granted to the respondents to respond to Adeyemi’s application had not elapsed.

The case centres on Adeyemi’s challenge to his continued detention without trial and his request for release or bail pending the determination of his case.

At Thursday’s proceedings, Adeyemi’s counsel, Muhammad Abdulaziz, informed the court that the respondents had been served with the relevant processes and that the applicant was ready to proceed.

However, counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mercy Akeredolu, was absent, while other respondents were also not represented in court.

The court registrar confirmed that the respondents received the order on September 8, while the hearing notice was served on September 9.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently questioned the timing of the service, noting that the respondents had not exhausted the 72-hour period allowed for them to show cause.

The judge also raised questions about the validity of the proof of service relating to the hearing notice, particularly whether it had been properly sworn before a commissioner for oaths.

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The court consequently returned the file to the registry for reassignment, directing Adeyemi’s counsel to return when the respondents’ statutory response period had expired and the matter was ripe for hearing.

The decision follows an earlier order directing the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the Attorney-General of the Federation to explain why Adeyemi’s outstanding prayers should not be granted.

Justice Egwuatu had already granted one of the applicant’s requests, ordering the authorities to provide him reasonable access to lawyers of his choice while in custody.

Adeyemi is seeking six principal reliefs, including his release, bail pending trial and access to medical practitioners of his choice. He also wants the police restrained from interrogating him or taking his statement without his lawyer present.

The court had declined to grant the substantive reliefs ex parte, insisting that the respondents be given an opportunity to respond.

Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State in July following a Federal High Court bench warrant issued after his repeated failure to appear for arraignment.

He is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation arising from his claim to head the PFIPC, an organisation the Presidency has reportedly disowned as “fake”.

He is expected to be arraigned on September 30, following an earlier order by Justice Mohammed Umar directing security agencies to arrest him and produce him before the court.