Court Strikes Out FG’s Charges Against Adeniyi Adeyemi Over Alleged Fake Agency

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed by the Federal Government against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar struck out the case on Monday following an application by the prosecution, which said the Federal Government had reviewed the case and decided to file a fresh charge before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, moved the application on behalf of the government.

Oyedepo told the court that a review by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had identified legal issues with the existing charge.

He explained that the alleged offences involving the documents in question fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.

The prosecution informed the court that a new charge had already been filed at the FCT High Court and asked Justice Umar to strike out the existing case to allow Adeyemi to be arraigned afresh.

Counsel to Adeyemi, Ibrahim Angulu, did not oppose the application.

The judge subsequently granted the request and struck out the charge.

Adeyemi had been facing an eight-count charge alongside two other defendants whose whereabouts were unknown. The allegations included conspiracy and forgery.

The case arose from allegations that Adeyemi operated the purported PFIPC using documents allegedly forged to present the organisation as a government-backed agency.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had previously stated that its investigation found that Adeyemi was not appointed by the Federal Government and that the purported council was not established by any valid law or government instrument.

The allegations against Adeyemi remain subject to judicial proceedings, and the striking out of the charge followed the prosecution’s decision to pursue the case before another court.