BREAKING: Court strikes out forgery charge against alleged PFIPC Director-General

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out an eight-count forgery charge against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly paraded himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Justice Mohammed Umar terminated further proceedings in the case following an application by the Federal Government to withdraw the charge.

The government was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

Although the police initially filed the charge, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) took over the prosecution at the previous adjourned sitting.

When the matter came up on Monday, Oyedepo informed the court that a review of the case file had revealed some loopholes, prompting the AGF to withdraw the charge.

He also disclosed that the government intended to transfer the case to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for Adeyemi’s fresh arraignment.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences involving documents purportedly forged by Adeyemi in connection with his operation of the purported agency could be prosecuted before the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.

Adeyemi’s counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the application to strike out the charge.

The defendant had 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 bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation. After pleading not guilty, the court ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed a date for the hearing.

Adeyemi had also applied for bail, telling the court that he was suffering from a contagious ailment that required urgent medical attention from his doctors.

However, the prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the government had adequate facilities to attend to his medical needs.

The scheduled hearing of the bail application did not proceed following the withdrawal of the charge.

Meanwhile, individuals earlier listed as potential prosecution witnesses included the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.

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

The withdrawal of the charge at the Federal High Court does not, according to the prosecution’s stated plan, end the matter, as the government intends to pursue a fresh arraignment before the FCT High Court.

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