The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the 38-year-old accused of posing as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), paving the way for his fresh arraignment before another court.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar struck out the case on Monday after the Federal Government applied to terminate the proceedings, disclosing plans to prosecute Adeyemi before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had reviewed the case file and the original charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police.
According to Oyedepo, the review revealed legal loopholes in the case, prompting the government to change its approach to the prosecution.
He argued that the alleged offences involving documents purportedly forged by Adeyemi while operating the supposed agency fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
The prosecution further informed the court that a fresh charge had already been filed before the FCT High Court, adding that Adeyemi would be arraigned there without delay.
Oyedepo consequently urged Justice Umar to strike out the existing charge to allow the government to proceed with the new prosecution.
Defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the application.
The judge subsequently struck out the eight-count charge, bringing the proceedings before the Federal High Court to an end.
Adeyemi had been standing trial in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2025 alongside two other defendants identified as Femi, whose surname was not disclosed, and Anu, also identified without a surname.
The two co-defendants were said to be at large.
The charges against the defendants bordered on conspiracy and forgery over allegations linked to the operation of the purported government-related agency.
However, Monday’s decision does not amount to an acquittal of Adeyemi, as the Federal Government says it intends to pursue the allegations through a fresh prosecution at the FCT High Court.
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