The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out an eight-count forgery charge against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed to be the Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the charge following an application by the Federal Government, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had decided to withdraw the case after reviewing the file.
Oyedepo told the court that the review revealed issues that informed the decision to discontinue the proceedings. He added that the government planned to transfer the case to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for a fresh arraignment.
He also argued that the alleged forged documents 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.
The charge was initially filed by the police before the AGF’s office took over the prosecution at the previous adjourned sitting.
Adeyemi was arrested on July 14 following a bench warrant issued by the court and subsequently arraigned on allegations bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, after which the court ordered his remand at Kuje Correctional Centre.
The defendant had also applied for bail, citing a contagious illness that required urgent medical attention from his doctors. The prosecution opposed the application, maintaining that government facilities were available to meet his medical needs.
The bail hearing, however, did not proceed following the withdrawal of the charge.
Those listed to testify in the case included 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.