Court Strikes Out FG’s Eight Count Charges Against Alleged Fake PFIPC Director General Adeniyi Adeyemi
The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight count criminal charge filed by the Federal Government against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who was accused of parading himself as the Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an alleged fake agency.
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the charges following an application by the Federal Government, which said a review of the case had revealed issues requiring the matter to be transferred to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for fresh arraignment.
At Monday’s proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), moved the application seeking the termination of the charges.
Oyedepo told the court that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had reviewed the case file and the charges filed by the Inspector General of Police and identified certain legal issues.
He explained that the documents allegedly forged by Adeyemi in connection with the operation of the purported agency fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) also informed the court that a fresh charge had been filed before the FCT High Court, adding that Adeyemi would be arraigned afresh without delay.
The prosecution consequently urged Justice Umar to strike out the existing charge in accordance with the law.
Counsel to Adeyemi, Ibrahim Angulu, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not oppose the application.
Following the absence of any objection from the defence, Justice Umar granted the application and struck out the eight count charge.
Adeyemi had been standing trial alongside two other defendants, whose whereabouts were unknown, over allegations bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
The decision to strike out the charges followed the Federal Government’s move to pursue the case through a fresh arraignment before the FCT High Court.