A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the inspector-general of police (IGP) and the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) to grant Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), access to his lawyers.
Obiora Egwuatu, presiding judge, gave the order on Thursday while ruling on a fundamental rights suit filed by Adeyemi.
The court, however, declined to grant Adeyemi’s requests for his release, bail and access to medical treatment without first hearing from the respondents.
Egwuatu directed the IGP, the police and the AGF to show cause within 72 hours why the remaining reliefs sought by Adeyemi should not be granted.
The judge adjourned the case until September 9 for the respondents to show cause.
Adeyemi had sought six reliefs, including an order directing the respondents to release him from custody and grant him bail pending the determination of the suit.
He also sought permission to access medical practitioners of his choice and an order restraining the police from interrogating him or obtaining a statement from him without his lawyer present.
In his ex parte application, Adeyemi specifically sought an order directing that, while he remains in custody, he be allowed “unimpeded access to legal practitioners of his own choosing at all reasonable hours”.
The court granted the request, directing that Adeyemi be allowed to meet his lawyers at reasonable hours while in custody.
Adeyemi was picked up in Osun state in July after a federal high court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his failure to appear in court for arraignment.
He is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation over his claim to head the PFIPC, an organisation the federal government has disowned.
Prosecutors alleged that Adeyemi forged an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff, among other official documents.
Adeyemi has denied the allegations and maintained that the council exists.