Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), is set to defend Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is facing criminal charges filed by the Federal Government over allegations of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and the use of forged presidential documents.
Adeyemi recently made headlines after accusing the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of demanding bribes running into hundreds of millions of naira in connection with his alleged appointment to head a government agency.
However, the Presidency has dismissed the allegations, insisting that Adeyemi was never appointed by President Bola Tinubu and that the agency he claimed to head does not exist.
Sources familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that Falana would represent Adeyemi in the criminal proceedings before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Federal Government has filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi over alleged conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and the use of forged presidential documents.
The charge also listed two other suspects identified simply as Femi and Anu, whose surnames were not disclosed. Both are said to be at large.
According to the charge sheet, Adeyemi, whose address was listed as the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja, allegedly conspired with the two suspects to forge several official State House documents.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants forged a presidential appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by Gbajabiamila.
They were also accused of forging official presidential letterheads and several State House documents, including requests for office space, collaboration with government agencies and approvals relating to the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The government further alleged that between 2024 and 2025, Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
Adeyemi insists agency exists
Adeyemi has consistently maintained that he is the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The Federal Government, however, described the agency as fictitious, insisting that no such government institution exists.
The criminal charges followed Adeyemi’s allegations that Gbajabiamila demanded ₦400m and an additional ₦200m to facilitate his appointment as head of a government agency.
He also alleged that the Chief of Staff demanded 48 per cent of the agency’s proposed ₦27.4bn take-off grant.
Adeyemi challenged the Presidency to constitute an independent panel to investigate the allegations and subject official documents signed by Gbajabiamila to forensic examination.
But in a detailed response on Wednesday, the Presidency defended the Chief of Staff, saying investigations conducted by the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Police Force established that Adeyemi was never appointed by President Tinubu or any government authority.
According to the Presidency, the investigations revealed that Adeyemi allegedly forged official documents and falsely presented himself as the head of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The police said the case originated from a petition submitted by the Office of the Chief of Staff after forged appointment letters purportedly issued from the office were allegedly discovered.
Investigators alleged that forged documents bearing fake signatures, official seals and reference numbers were used to create the impression that Adeyemi headed a federal government agency.
According to the police, Adeyemi was arrested on October 27, 2025, at an office where he allegedly operated as Director-General of the purported council.
Searches conducted at the office and his residence in APC Quarters, Suleja, Niger State, reportedly led to the recovery of several documents and exhibits linked to the investigation.
Police said Adeyemi told investigators that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola procured the alleged appointment letter for him.
However, investigators said they later established that Tanimola had died in a fire incident at a hotel in Abuja, a claim they said was corroborated by his family, hospital officials and church records.
The police further disclosed that financial intelligence obtained from the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) revealed that Adeyemi maintained 34 active bank accounts across various commercial banks.
Investigators also alleged that he opened an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria in the name of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The police concluded that their investigation established a prima facie case against Adeyemi, alleging that he deliberately forged presidential documents and falsely presented himself as a Federal Government appointee.
