The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has increased the charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly headed a non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, from 22 to 36 counts.
The prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, disclosed this on Monday before Justice Yusuf Halilu, adding that four civil servants had been joined in the amended charge.
The newly listed defendants are Aminu Abdullahi, Ogaba Harry, Florence Omameh and Patricia Akhigbe. The case, initially instituted by the police, was subsequently taken over by the ICPC.
The amendment stalled proceedings at the court, where Adeyemi's bail application had been scheduled for hearing, as all the defendants were required to take their pleas afresh.
However, the arraignment could not proceed following the absence of the fourth defendant, Omameh, who was said to be indisposed.
Tahir told the court that her absence had prevented the prosecution from proceeding with the plea-taking, citing Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which provides for the presence of defendants during criminal proceedings, subject to specified exceptions.
He consequently sought a brief adjournment to enable the absent defendant to recover and appear for arraignment.
Counsel for Adeyemi, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the amended charges or the request for adjournment but drew the court's attention to his client's prolonged detention.
Justice Halilu subsequently adjourned the case until November 18 for the arraignment of the defendants, directing that Adeyemi be returned to Kuje Correctional Centre while the other accused persons should be taken back to the ICPC detention facility.
