Fake Agency Boss: Family, Associates Yet To Visit Adeyemi 24 Hours After Arrival At Kuje Prison — Investigation

Twenty-four hours after the embattled Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja on the orders of a Federal High Court, his family members and close associates are yet to visit him, as fresh details emerge about his first night behind bars.

Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity, a top source at the Kuje Correctional Centre who pleaded not to be named, said Adeyemi was awake throughout his first night in custody and appeared demoralised following his arrival at the facility.

The source further claimed that Adeyemi had not eaten since he was brought into custody, despite being offered food.

The development came amid a heavy deployment of security personnel and heightened security around parts of the area, with soldiers and officers from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) observed around the correctional facility.

LEADERSHIP observed the presence of security personnel around the facility, although it could not immediately be established whether the deployment was directly connected to Adeyemi’s remand.

The source however, explained that the Kuje Custodial Centre remained safe, insisting that the presence of soldiers and other security personnel around the facility was not unusual.

According to the source, Adeyemi was brought into the facility after all the necessary documentation required for his admission had been completed.

He, however, declined to disclose the specific security classification under which Adeyemi was being held, saying the information was not available for public disclosure.

The source said Adeyemi was thereafter processed in accordance with the procedures applicable to inmates admitted into the facility.

LEADERSHIP reports that the embattled Adeyemi’s first 24 hours in custody were also reportedly marked by limited communication.

The source disclosed that the embattled official was disconnected from his usual means of communication shortly after arriving at Kuje .

“Yes, you already know that is the tradition. We are surprised that, despite being said to be a prince, none of his family members or associates has visited him, not even with food. I want to believe that could be one of the reasons why he is downcast,” the source said.

It was not immediately clear whether the development affected his ability to communicate with his lawyers or members of his family.

As at the time of filing this report, it also remained unclear why no member of his family or close associates had visited him within the first 24 hours of his arrival.

Speaking on the heavy security presence around the correctional facility, another source at the Kuje facility said custodial centres across the country had been placed on heightened alert due to the prevailing security situation.

The source also linked the heightened security posture to preparations around Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary, amid broader security concerns across the country.

Adeyemi was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre following an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja after he pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

His remand followed his arraignment before the court, pending the continuation of proceedings in the case.

The development has attracted considerable attention, particularly because of Adeyemi’s position and the allegations contained in the charge against him.

As of the time of filing this report, details of the specific conditions of Adeyemi’s custody, including his security classification and the extent of his communication with his legal team and family, remained unclear.

Our correspondent could not independently verify all the claims made by the source as calls put across to the spokesperson of the Kuje Correctional Centre, which is under the Federal Capital Territory Command, Mr. Samson Duza, were not answered and he did not return the calls as of the time of filing this report.

Adeyemi has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of law.