The Federal Government has withdrawn its eight-count criminal case against Adeniyi Adeyemi, accused of posing as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), paving the way for his fresh arraignment before a court in the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out the charges on Monday after the prosecution applied to terminate the proceedings, citing a review of the case and a decision to pursue the matter at the FCT High Court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had reviewed the case file and the charge initially filed by the Inspector-General of Police.
According to Oyedepo, the review identified issues with the case, including the jurisdiction required to prosecute the alleged forgery offences.
He explained that the documents Adeyemi was accused of forging in connection with the purported agency fell within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the FCT rather than the Federal High Court.
The prosecution informed the judge that a fresh charge had already been filed before the FCT High Court and that the government intended to arraign Adeyemi there without delay.
Oyedepo consequently asked the court to strike out the existing charge in line with the law.
Adeyemi’s counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the application. Justice Umar subsequently granted the request and terminated the Federal High Court proceedings.
The 38-year-old defendant had been facing trial alongside two other suspects, identified only as Femi and Anu, who were said to be at large. The allegations against them include conspiracy and forgery.
