From
Admin Desk
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the eight-count forgery case filed against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who paraded himself as Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the charge on Monday after the Federal Government applied to discontinue the proceedings. The application was moved by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Although the case was initially instituted by the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) took over the prosecution at the previous sitting.
At Monday’s proceedings, the DPPF informed the court that the AGF had reviewed the case file and identified gaps that made it necessary to withdraw the charge before the Federal High Court. He explained that the government intends to re-file the matter at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which has jurisdiction over the alleged offences.
According to him, the documents allegedly forged by the defendant in the course of operating the fictitious agency are matters that should be tried at the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the application, prompting Justice Umar to strike out the charge and terminate further proceedings.
Adeyemi has been in custody since July 14 following his arrest on the strength of a bench warrant issued by the court. He was later arraigned on allegations bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation, to which he pleaded not guilty. The court had ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned for bail hearing.
The defendant had appealed for bail on health grounds, claiming he was suffering from a contagious illness requiring urgent attention from his personal physicians. The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the government has adequate medical facilities to cater for his health.
The bail application could not be heard due to Mondayโs withdrawal of the charge.
Individuals listed to testify in the case included the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede, Ituah Sylvester, two officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
