The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an eight-count forgery charge against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-proclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following the Federal Government’s decision to discontinue the prosecution.
Justice Mohammed Umar terminated the proceedings on Monday after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had reviewed the case file and identified defects that warranted the withdrawal of the charge.
Oyedepo told the court that the government intended to arraign Adeyemi afresh before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), explaining that the alleged forgery offences fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
Counsel to the defendant, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the prosecution’s application to strike out the charge.
Justice Umar subsequently granted the application, bringing the current proceedings to an end.
The decision, however, does not necessarily end the legal battle against Adeyemi, as the prosecution has indicated plans to initiate fresh proceedings before the appropriate court.
The police initially filed the charges against Adeyemi before the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the prosecution at an earlier sitting.
Adeyemi is accused of forgery, fraud and impersonation in connection with his activities as the purported head of the PFIPC, which authorities have described as a non-existent organisation. The allegations have yet to be determined by a court.
He has remained in detention since July 14, when he was arrested following a bench warrant issued by the court. After his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
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The defendant had also applied for bail, citing a contagious ailment that he said required urgent medical attention from his doctors.
The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that government facilities were available to cater for his medical needs.
Although the court had scheduled a hearing on the bail application, the withdrawal of the charge brought that process to a halt.
Among the individuals earlier listed as prosecution witnesses were the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.
Other proposed witnesses included Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, civil servants in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
With the charge struck out, the Federal High Court proceedings have ended, but the planned fresh arraignment before the FCT High Court could provide another avenue for the prosecution to pursue the allegations against Adeyemi.
