Fake Agency DG’s Case Stalls as Abuja Court Rejects Incompetent Legal Filing

The case filed by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-proclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), encountered another procedural setback at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

Presiding Judge Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered that the case file be returned to the court’s central registry for reassignment to another judge, effectively delaying proceedings due to an incompetent filing by the applicant’s legal team.

The trouble began during the scheduled sitting when it was discovered that the proof of service for the day’s hearing notice had not been sworn or deposed to before a commissioner of oaths.

Describing the document as legally “incompetent,” Justice Egwuatu rejected the filing. Adeyemi’s lead counsel, Muhammad Abdulaziz, admitted to the technical error and requested a brief adjournment to correct the oversight.

However, Justice Egwuatu declined the adjournment. The judge noted that the 72-hour window originally granted to the respondents to show cause why Adeyemi’s reliefs should not be granted had not yet expired since they were only served on September 8. Coupled with the imminent conclusion of the court’s annual vacation, the judge ruled that the most appropriate course of action was to remit the case back to the registry for formal reassignment.

While Abdulaziz appeared for the applicant and Mercy Akeredolu represented the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigeria Police Force had no legal representation present in court.

Adeyemi is seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights, including his release from police custody, administrative bail, and unhindered access to medical care and his legal team.

Parallel to his civil suit, Adeyemi is facing an independent criminal trial marked before Justice Mohammed Umar. In that matter, the police are prosecuting him on an eight-count charge bordering on impersonation, fraud, and the forgery of presidential appointment documents.

Justice Umar had issued an arrest warrant against Adeyemi in July after he repeatedly failed to appear in court, scheduling his formal arraignment for September 30, 2026.