The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expanded its prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), increasing the charges against him from 22 to 36 and adding four civil servants as defendants.
The development comes amid an ongoing legal battle over allegations of forgery and impersonation involving the council, which has been described as fictitious.
The four newly named defendants are Patricia Akhigbe, Florence Omameh, Aminu Abdullahi and Ogaba Harry.
According to the amended charge filed by the anti-corruption agency, the additional defendants are civil servants attached to the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
The amendment raises the number of criminal counts against Adeyemi from 22 to 36, signalling an expansion of the commission’s case and bringing more public officials into the proceedings.
The ICPC is pursuing the matter over alleged acts of forgery and impersonation, although the allegations remain to be established before a court of law.
The inclusion of the four civil servants marks a significant development in the case, which could further widen the scope of the investigation into the activities surrounding the purported investment promotion council.
It remains unclear from the available details whether the newly named defendants have entered pleas or how they intend to respond to the allegations.
The case is expected to continue as the court considers the amended charges.
