A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Mohammed Umar terminated the proceedings on Monday following an application by the Federal Government, which said the case would be transferred to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for a fresh arraignment.
Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, presented the application on behalf of the government.
Oyedepo told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had reviewed the case file and the charges initially filed by the Inspector-General of Police. The review reportedly identified legal and jurisdictional issues requiring the case to be pursued before a different court.
He explained that the documents Adeyemi was accused of forging in connection with his alleged activities could be prosecuted by the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
Following the government’s request, Justice Umar struck out the charges before him, clearing the way for the matter to be brought before the FCT High Court for fresh arraignment.
The development represents a change in the venue for the prosecution rather than a determination of Adeyemi’s guilt or innocence. The allegations against him remain allegations unless established through the judicial process.
