'Fake DG' reportedly detained at former SARS headquarters

The Director-General of the Presidential Intervention Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, is being held by operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team in Abuja over allegations surrounding the operations of the organisation, which authorities have described as a fake Federal Government agency.

Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team led by Chief Superintendent of Police Moses Lohor before he was moved to Ibadan, Oyo State, and later flown to Abuja.

Sources familiar with the investigation said his arrest followed a warrant reportedly issued by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

As reported by Daily Trust, it was gathered that the suspect is currently undergoing interrogation at the IRT headquarters, located at the former Special Anti-Robbery Squad facility in Guzape, Abuja.

Although the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said he would verify the suspect's whereabouts when contacted, he had yet to provide an update as of the time of filing the report.

However, a senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, confirmed to Daily Trust that Adeyemi remained in IRT custody.

According to the source, investigators are questioning him over the alleged operation of an organisation presented as a Federal Government agency, as well as other matters linked to the ongoing probe.

Meanwhile, the President's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has instituted a N15bn defamation suit against Adeyemi over allegations that he demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a proposed N27.3bn take-off grant for the agency.

In the suit filed before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Gbajabiamila is seeking N10bn as general damages, N5bn as aggravated damages, N200m as the cost of the action, and an order compelling Adeyemi to publish a retraction and apology in five national newspapers and across all social media platforms where the alleged defamatory claims were made.