COURT STRIKES OUT FG’S 8-COUNT CHARGE AGAINST ALLEGED ‘FAKE’ PFIPC DG, ADEYEMI

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out the eight-count forgery charge brought against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following an application by the Federal Government to withdraw the case.

Justice Mohammed Umar terminated further proceedings in the case after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation had found loopholes in the charge and planned to move the case to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for a fresh arraignment.

THE WITHDRAWAL

The charge was originally brought before the court by the police, but the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the prosecution at the last adjourned date.

When the matter was called on Monday, the DPPF notified the court that the AGF, after a proper review of the case file, had found some loopholes that informed his decision to withdraw the charge.

Oyedepo told the court that the documents Adeyemi was said to have forged during his operation of the alleged bogus agency could be prosecuted at the FCT High Court and not the Federal High Court.

The DPPF’s application for the charge to be struck out was not opposed by the defendant’s counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN.

THE DEFENDANT’S ORDEAL

Adeyemi, 38, has been in detention since July 14, when he was arrested on the strength of a bench warrant issued by the court. He was arraigned on charges relating to forgery, fraud and impersonation.

Following his plea of not guilty, the court ordered his remand at Kuje Prison and fixed a date for hearing. The defendant had begged the court to consider his request for bail, insisting he was suffering from a contagious ailment that required urgent medical attention from his doctors.

His application was opposed by the prosecution, which maintained that the government had adequate facilities to take care of his health needs.

The scheduled hearing of the bail application was thwarted by the withdrawal of the charge.

THE WITNESSES

Those earlier billed to testify in the matter include the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.

Other witnesses are civil servants working in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

THE ALLEGATIONS

The police had filed the eight-count charge against Adeyemi in November 2025, alleging that he conspired with two other suspects, identified as Femi and Anu, whose surnames were not stated and who are still at large.

According to the charges, the alleged offences include the forgery of presidential appointment letters, Presidential letter-headed papers, requests for collaboration with the Ministry of the Area of Land requisition and offices across the 36 states, as well as other documents purportedly emanating from the State House, Abuja.

Adeyemi was being tried alongside two others whose whereabouts were unknown, on charges bordering on conspiracy and forgery.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The DPPF informed the court that a new charge has been filed at the High Court of the FCT and that Adeyemi would be expeditiously arraigned afresh.

The fresh arraignment means Adeyemi will face the allegations in a court with appropriate jurisdiction, and the trial will begin anew. ValidViewNetwork reports that the Federal High Court has struck out the charge. The case now moves to the FCT High Court.