Court Strikes Out Forgery Charge Against Alleged Fake PFIPC DG

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out an eight-count forgery charge against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who was described as the Director-General of the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Justice Mohammed Umar terminated further proceedings in the case on Monday 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, who informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation had reviewed the case file and identified issues that informed the decision to withdraw the charges.

Oyedepo told the court that the government planned to transfer the case to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for a fresh arraignment.

He also argued that the alleged forged documents relating to the operation of the purported agency could be prosecuted at the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.

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

Adeyemi was arrested on July 14 following a bench warrant issued by the court and had remained in detention since then. He was subsequently arraigned on allegations involving forgery, fraud and impersonation, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Following his plea, the court ordered his remand at Kuje Prison and scheduled further proceedings.

The defendant had also applied for bail, citing a contagious illness that he said required urgent medical attention from his doctors. However, the prosecution opposed the application, maintaining that government facilities were available to meet his medical needs.

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

Among those previously listed as potential prosecution witnesses were the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.

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

The Federal Government’s stated plan to pursue a fresh arraignment at the FCT High Court means the withdrawal of the charge at the Federal High Court should not be interpreted as an acquittal on the allegations.