Court Strikes Out Forgery Charge Against Alleged Fake PFIPC DG Adeyemi

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count forgery charge instituted against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who was accused of parading himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the charge on Monday following an application by the Federal Government to discontinue the proceedings and transfer the matter to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for fresh arraignment.

The Federal Government was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had reviewed the case file and identified legal issues that necessitated the withdrawal of the charge.

Oyedepo explained that the government had concluded plans to initiate fresh proceedings against Adeyemi before the FCT High Court, where the alleged offences could be prosecuted.

He told the court that the documents Adeyemi was accused of forging in connection with his alleged operation of the purported agency fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.

The application to strike out the charge was not opposed by Adeyemi’s counsel, Mr. Ibrahim Angulu, SAN.

Following the application, Justice Umar terminated further proceedings on the existing charge, paving the way for the government to pursue the matter before the appropriate court.

The development followed an earlier decision by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to take over the prosecution, which was initially instituted by the police.

At the previous sitting, the AGF’s office had assumed responsibility for the case, setting the stage for the subsequent review that culminated in Monday’s application.

Adeyemi has been in detention since July 14, when he was arrested pursuant to a bench warrant issued by the court.

He was subsequently arraigned on allegations involving forgery, fraud and impersonation in connection with his purported role as director-general of the PFIPC.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which the court ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.

During the earlier proceedings, Adeyemi had appealed to the court to grant him bail, claiming that he was suffering from a contagious ailment requiring urgent medical attention from his personal doctors.

The prosecution opposed the bail request, arguing that the government had adequate medical facilities to attend to his health needs while in custody.

The court had scheduled the hearing of the bail application, but the withdrawal of the charge prevented the application from proceeding as planned.

The latest development does not amount to a determination of the allegations against Adeyemi on their merits. Rather, the government has indicated its intention to pursue fresh proceedings before the FCT High Court.

Among those previously listed as prospective prosecution witnesses were the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.

Other proposed witnesses included civil servants in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, identified as Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Their proposed testimony was expected to form part of the prosecution’s case concerning the allegations against Adeyemi.

The government’s planned move to the FCT High Court will determine the next stage of the legal proceedings, subject to the filing of a fresh charge and the court’s consideration of the case.

Adeyemi remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until the allegations against him are established before a competent court.