The fundamental rights case involving detained self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has hit another delay at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Wednesday returned the case file to the court registry for reassignment after determining that the 72-hour period given to the respondents to respond to Adeyemi’s application had not yet expired.
The matter was brought before the judge for the respondents to explain why the remaining reliefs sought by Adeyemi should not be granted.
At the proceedings, counsel for Adeyemi, Muhammad Abdulaziz, told the court that all the respondents had been served and that his client was prepared to proceed with the case.
Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mercy Akeredolu, was also present, while the other respondents were absent.
The applicant’s lawyer said, “As ordered yesterday, all the respondents have been duly served and we are ready to proceed.”
The court registrar subsequently confirmed that the order had been served on the respondents on September 8, while the hearing notice was served on September 9.
Justice Egwuatu, however, questioned whether sufficient time had passed since the documents were served, noting that the 72-hour window given to the respondents was still running.
The judge also raised concerns about the proof of service for the hearing notice, asking whether it had been properly sworn to before a commissioner for oaths.
Justice Egwuatu consequently ruled that the respondents had not yet exhausted the period granted to them to show cause.
He then directed that the case file be returned to the registry for reassignment and instructed the applicant to return once the respondents’ response period had expired and the matter was ready for hearing.
The latest development followed an earlier order directing the Inspector-General of Police, the police and the Attorney-General of the Federation to show cause within 72 hours why Adeyemi’s remaining requests should not be granted.
However, the court had already granted one of the reliefs sought by Adeyemi, ordering the authorities to provide him with access to lawyers of his choice at reasonable hours while he remains in custody.
Adeyemi had asked the court for six reliefs in his fundamental rights case. Among his requests were an order for his release, bail pending the determination of the suit and permission to receive medical attention from practitioners of his choice.
He also sought an order preventing the police from interrogating him or obtaining a statement from him without his lawyer being present.
The court had declined to grant the main reliefs without first hearing from the respondents, insisting that the authorities must be given an opportunity to respond to the application.
Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State in July after the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant following his repeated failure to appear for arraignment.
He is facing an eight-count charge involving alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation linked to his claim of being the Director-General of the PFIPC. The Presidency has previously disowned the organisation, describing it as “fake.”
Source: Federal High Court proceedings
