The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Police Force to grant Adeniyi Adeyemi unrestricted access to lawyers of his choice while he remains in custody.
Adeyemi is linked to the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Thursday while ruling on an ex parte application in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Adeyemi through his counsel, M.B. Abdulazeez.
The court directed that for as long as Adeyemi is detained, he must be allowed to meet legal practitioners of his choosing at all reasonable hours.
Adeyemi had also sought additional reliefs, including bail, immediate release from detention, and access to medical treatment by doctors of his choice. His legal team further asked the court to restrain the respondents and their agents from interrogating him or requiring him to make, adopt, or sign any statement without a lawyer present.
Justice Egwuatu declined to grant those additional prayers at the ex parte stage, holding that the respondents must first be heard. He ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation and the police to show cause within 72 hours why the remaining reliefs should not be granted.
The matter was adjourned to September 9 for the respondents to appear and respond.
Adeyemi had earlier been declared wanted in connection with allegations surrounding the purported PFIPC scandal.
