The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out the eight-count forgery charge against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly paraded himself as Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following the Federal Government’s decision to withdraw the case.
Justice Mohammed Umar terminated further proceedings after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the government intended to pursue the matter afresh at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The charge was initially filed by the police before the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) took over the prosecution at the last adjourned sitting.
When the matter came up on Monday, Oyedepo told the court that a review of the case file by the AGF had revealed loopholes that informed the decision to withdraw the charge.
He further explained that the government had concluded plans to transfer the case to the FCT High Court for Adeyemi’s fresh arraignment.
The prosecution also argued that the alleged forged documents linked to Adeyemi’s operation of the purported agency could be prosecuted before the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
The application to strike out the charge was not opposed by Adeyemi’s counsel, Mr. Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, paving the way for the court to terminate the proceedings.
Adeyemi has 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 to the charges, he was remanded at Kuje Prison, while the court fixed a date for further proceedings.
The defendant had also urged the court to grant him bail, claiming that he was suffering from a contagious ailment that required urgent medical attention from his doctors.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the government had adequate medical facilities to address his health needs.
The planned hearing of the bail application, however, could not proceed following the withdrawal of the charge.
Meanwhile, those earlier listed to testify in the case included the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.
Other proposed witnesses were civil servants 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 withdrawal of the charge at the Federal High Court does not amount to an acquittal, as the Federal Government has indicated its intention to pursue a fresh arraignment before the FCT High Court.
