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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday adjourned indefinitely and returned for reassignment a fundamental rights suit filed by detained self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu declined to hear the matter, ruling that the 72-hour period given to the police, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to show cause had not expired.
Counsel to Adeyemi, Muhammad Abdulaziz, urged the court to proceed, saying all respondents had been served and the applicant was ready.
Counsel to the AGF, Mercy Akeredolu, was present, while other respondents were absent.
The registrar confirmed that the court’s order was served on the respondents on September 8, while the hearing notice was served on September 9.
Justice Egwuatu questioned the timing and whether the proof of service on the hearing notice had been properly sworn before a commissioner for oaths.
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“Well, in any case, the 72 hours have not expired. And yesterday, you told me it will expire today and that was why I fixed it today. You know the urgency of your matter, you are the one to do the needful,” the judge said.
He subsequently ordered that the case file be returned to the registry for reassignment and directed the applicant to return after the respondents’ time had elapsed.
The court had earlier ordered the IGP, police and AGF to show cause within 72 hours why Adeyemi’s remaining reliefs should not be granted. It had already granted one relief, directing that he be allowed access to lawyers of his choice at reasonable hours while in custody.
Adeyemi is seeking six reliefs, including his release, bail, access to medical practitioners of his choice and an order preventing the police from interrogating him or taking his statement without his lawyer present.
The court had declined to grant the substantive reliefs ex parte, insisting that the respondents be heard.
Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State in July after the Federal High Court issued a bench warrant over his repeated failure to appear for arraignment.
He faces an eight-count charge of forgery, fraud and impersonation over his claim to head the PFIPC, an organisation the Presidency has disowned as “fake”.He is expected to be arraigned on September 30.
