The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an eight-count criminal charge against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly headed the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar struck out the charge following an application by the Federal Government after a review of the case revealed legal issues concerning the court’s jurisdiction.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation reviewed the case file and identified legal loopholes in the prosecution.
According to the prosecution, the alleged forgery offences fall within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory rather than the Federal High Court. Following the development, the Federal Government filed a fresh charge against Adeyemi at the High Court of the FCT, where he is expected to face a new arraignment.
Adeyemi, 38, had presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, an agency authorities reportedly found had no legal backing. Two other defendants, identified as Femi and Anu, remain at large.
Investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the police reportedly revealed that the purported agency operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja despite lacking official authorisation. Adeyemi was previously arrested in Osun State and remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre over allegations connected to the purported agency and its operations.Â
He had also claimed that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, facilitated his appointment. Gbajabiamila, however, strongly denied the claim.
The striking out of the charge followed the prosecution’s decision to discontinue the case before the Federal High Court, while the fresh filing at the FCT High Court sets the stage for further proceedings.
By Musekir Faisat OmolaraÂ
