Twelve new charges have been slammed on fake agency boss Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The new ones raise the total against him to 36 charges.

The ICPC amended the charges in the ongoing case involving alleged forgery and impersonation it filed against self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Before the latest amendment, there were 22 counts in the previous charge on which Adeyemi was arraigned as the sole defendant on October 29 before Justice Halilu Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In the new charges, the anti-graft agency has added four additional defendants who are civil servants.

They are: Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Ms. Florence Omameh and Patricia Akhigbe.

At the mention of the case yesterday, prosecution lawyer Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), told the court that the prosecuting agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has filed an amended charge.

Their planned arraignment on the fresh charge was aborted owing to the absence of Ms. Omameh, who was said to be unwell.

Tahir told the court that the fourth defendant (Ms. Omameh) has health challenge, but other defendants were in court.

He said the case has now become a “joint trial consisting of five defendants.”

The prosecuting lawyer said ICPC’s interactions with the fourth defendant revealed that she was on admission in Abuja.

Tahir added that Ms. Omameh was served with the fresh charge alongside proof of evidence.

Citing the provision of Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA), Tahir asked for a short adjournment.

Tahir noted that since it is now a joint trial, all the defendants must be in court for proceedings to be properly conducted, subject to the exception stated therein in the provision of the ACJA.

Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu (SAN) agreed to an adjournment, but reminded the court about his client’s prolonged detention.

Justice Halilu, who adjourned till November 18, ordered that Adeyemi be further remanded in Kuje prison, while the others are to remain in ICPC’s custody.

He added that the four defendants – Abdullahi, Harry, Ms. Omameh and Akhigbe have been listed as co-defendants in the new charge.

Adeyemi who was arraigned on Oct 29 was waiting to take his bail application today unfortunately, that was stalled by the new development by the ICPC’s amended charge.

The defendants however, did not enter their plea due to Ms. Omameh’s absence. (The Nation)