A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the reassignment of a fundamental rights suit filed by the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, against the police and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Thursday after identifying a procedural defect in the proof of service filed by Adeyemi’s legal team.

Adeyemi, who is currently in police custody, had approached the court seeking his release, bail and permission to obtain medical treatment from health practitioners of his choice.

He also asked the court to restrain the police and their agents from interrogating him or compelling him to make or sign any statement except in the presence of his lawyer.

In addition, the applicant requested unrestricted access to his legal representatives while in detention.

The suit listed the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police as respondents.

Justice Egwuatu had on September 3 declined to grant Adeyemi’s request for bail and medical treatment, ruling that the respondents needed to be heard in accordance with the principle of fair hearing.

The court, however, granted his request for unhindered access to his lawyers and directed the respondents to show cause why the remaining reliefs should not be granted.

The case could not proceed on Wednesday because the applicant’s lawyers were unable to establish proper service on the respondents. It was consequently adjourned until Thursday.

At Thursday’s proceedings, Adeyemi’s counsel, Muhammad Abdulazeez, informed the court that all the respondents had been served and that he was ready to proceed.

The court registrar confirmed that the proof of service and the order to show cause had been served on the respondents on September 8, while the hearing notice for Thursday’s proceedings was served on September 9.

However, Justice Egwuatu observed that the proof of service for the hearing notice had not been sworn to before a commissioner for oaths.

The judge consequently described the document as “incompetent.”

After examining the court file, Abdulazeez conceded the defect and requested a short adjournment to enable the legal team to correct the process.

Justice Egwuatu, however, noted that the respondents were still within the time allowed to respond to the order to show cause.

He further observed that the court vacation was coming to an end and directed that the case file be returned to the registry for reassignment.

Only Adeyemi’s counsel and the lawyer representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mercy Akeredolu, were present in court on Thursday. No lawyer appeared for the police.

Adeyemi faces separate criminal proceedings

The fundamental rights case is separate from a criminal charge filed against Adeyemi by the police before another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Mohammed Umar.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, borders on allegations including forgery and impersonation.

Justice Umar reportedly issued an arrest warrant against Adeyemi in July after he failed to appear for scheduled proceedings and subsequently fixed September 30 for his arraignment.

Adeyemi was later arrested by the police and has remained in custody pending his arraignment.

The police listed Adeyemi, “Femi Surname Unknown” and “Anu Surname Unknown” as the first to third defendants in the criminal case.

The prosecution is expected to call several witnesses, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Investigators have alleged that Adeyemi operated the purported agency from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja before his arrest.

The allegations remain subject to determination by the court.