Abuja, Nigeria — A Nigerian man has been charged over allegations that he created a fictitious federal government agency, appointed himself as its director-general and secured about $1 million in public funding for the organization.

Adeniyi Adeyemi appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including forgery, conspiracy and impersonation.

The court remanded Adeyemi at Kuje Correctional Centre until October 12, when his bail application and the case are expected to be heard.

Prosecutors say agency was never authorized

Prosecutors allege that Adeyemi presented himself as director-general of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organization they say was never established or authorized by the Nigerian presidency.

Despite its alleged lack of official status, the PFIPC secured office space inside the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and received an allocation of about $1 million in Nigeria’s 2026 federal budget.

The organization also allegedly attempted to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

ICPC investigation alleges forged documents

Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which investigated the case, said Adeyemi had never been appointed by the federal government to head the organisation.

The anti-corruption commission also alleged that documents used to support the PFIPC’s existence were forged and recommended Adeyemi for prosecution.

Adeyemi denies wrongdoing

Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and maintains that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was legitimate.

He says he personally worked to secure the organization’s inclusion in the federal budget.

Adeyemi remains in custody pending the next court hearing. He is presumed innocent unless convicted by a court.