Court Strikes Out Forgery Charges Against Alleged Fake Presidential Agency DG

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of posing as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar terminated the trial on Monday following an application by the Federal Government, which said a review of the case revealed legal issues with the charge.

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had reviewed the case file and found that the alleged forgery offences were within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.

Oyedepo said a fresh charge had been filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, where Adeyemi would be arraigned again. Defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the application.

Adeyemi, 38, had been charged alongside two other suspects, identified as Femi and Anu, whose surnames were not provided and who are reportedly at large. The charges include conspiracy and forgery.

The striking out of the charge clears the way for a fresh arraignment at the FCT High Court; it does not amount to an acquittal.