Court Strikes Out FG’s Forgery Charges Against ‘Fake’ PFIPC Boss, Adeniyi Adeyemi

Prince Adeniyi Mathew Adeyemi

Court Strikes Out FG’s Forgery Charges Against ‘Fake’ PFIPC Boss, Adeniyi Adeyemi

Prosecution to re-arraign defendant before FCT High Court over alleged impersonation

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed by the Federal Government against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the charge following an application by the prosecution to withdraw the case, paving the way for the defendant to be re-arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At the resumed proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had reviewed the case file and uncovered “loopholes” in the charge.

Oyedepo explained that the documents Adeyemi allegedly forged fell under the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court. Consequently, he applied to withdraw the charge to allow for a proper fresh arraignment in the appropriate court.

The defense counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, did not oppose the Federal Government’s application for withdrawal. Delivering his ruling, Justice Umar granted the application and struck out the charge, effectively ending the proceedings at the Federal High Court.

Adeyemi had been in detention following his arrest on the strength of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court. He was initially arraigned on charges bordering on forgery, fraud, and impersonation, and was subsequently remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The case against Adeyemi stems from allegations that he held himself out as the Director-General of the PFIPC, a body authorities have described as non-existent. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the agency was a legitimate initiative.

Monday’s decision effectively terminates the case before the Federal High Court, but does not signal the end of the FG’s prosecution efforts. A fresh arraignment before the FCT High Court is now expected. The development also halted the scheduled hearing of Adeyemi’s bail application, which was pending before the Federal High Court.