Court Strikes Out FG’s Eight-Count Charge Against Alleged Fake Agency DG, Adeyemi

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge instituted by the Federal Government against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the 38-year-old man accused of allegedly parading himself as the Director-General of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar terminated the proceedings on Monday following an application by the Federal Government seeking the withdrawal of the charge after a review of the case file reportedly revealed legal and jurisdictional shortcomings.

The decision paves the way for Adeyemi to face a fresh arraignment before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the government says a new charge has already been filed.

At the proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had reviewed the case file and the charge initially filed by the Inspector-General of Police.

Oyedepo explained that the review identified loopholes that made it necessary to discontinue the proceedings before the Federal High Court and pursue the allegations before a court considered competent to hear the case.

According to the prosecution, some of the documents allegedly forged by Adeyemi in connection with his purported operation of the agency fell within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the FCT rather than the Federal High Court.

The government consequently opted to terminate the existing proceedings and initiate a fresh prosecution before the appropriate court.

Moving the application, Oyedepo urged Justice Umar to strike out the charge in accordance with the law, explaining that the government intended to ensure that the allegations were prosecuted before the proper judicial authority.

He also assured the court that the new charge had been filed at the High Court of the FCT and that the defendant would be arraigned afresh without unnecessary delay.

The application was not opposed by Adeyemi’s counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, who represented the defendant during Monday’s proceedings.

Following the absence of any objection from the defence, Justice Umar granted the prosecution’s request and struck out the charge, bringing the proceedings before the Federal High Court to an end.

The decision, however, does not amount to an acquittal on the underlying allegations, as the Federal Government has indicated its intention to continue the prosecution before the FCT High Court.

Adeyemi Faces Allegations of Conspiracy, Forgery

Adeyemi had been standing trial alongside two other individuals identified in the charge as Femi, whose surname was not disclosed, and Anu, also identified without a surname.

The two other defendants were said to be at large at the time of the proceedings.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2025, was brought against the defendants by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation and centred on allegations bordering on conspiracy and forgery.

The prosecution's case relates to allegations that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the director-general of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and allegedly used forged documents in connection with the purported organisation.

The allegations are yet to be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, and Adeyemi remains entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in accordance with the law.

The withdrawal of the Federal High Court charge followed the government's assessment that the nature of the alleged offences and the documents involved required the matter to be taken before the FCT High Court.

The development also underscores the importance of establishing the proper jurisdiction of a court before criminal proceedings can continue, particularly where the prosecution's review raises questions about the legal basis on which a charge was instituted.

AGF’S Review Prompts Change of Venue

The intervention by the Attorney-General of the Federation appears to have been central to the decision to discontinue the existing proceedings and pursue a fresh arraignment.

As the chief law officer of the federation, the Attorney-General has statutory responsibilities relating to the institution, continuation and discontinuation of criminal proceedings, subject to the provisions of the Constitution and other applicable laws.

In this case, Oyedepo told the court that the review conducted by Fagbemi and his office identified shortcomings in the original charge, prompting the decision to approach the FCT High Court.

Rather than proceed with a case that the prosecution considered legally vulnerable, the government sought to terminate the existing charge and commence proceedings before the court it considers competent to handle the allegations.

The prosecution's position suggests that the decision was intended to address the identified legal issues before the matter proceeded further.

However, the precise nature of the alleged loopholes, beyond the stated question of jurisdiction over the documents said to have been forged, was not detailed in the information presented during Monday's proceedings.

The Federal Government's next step will therefore be to prosecute the allegations under the fresh charge reportedly filed at the FCT High Court.

Fresh Arraignment Expected

With the Federal High Court proceedings terminated, attention now shifts to the anticipated arraignment of Adeyemi before the High Court of the FCT.

The prosecution has indicated that it intends to move expeditiously, although no specific date for the fresh arraignment was disclosed in the account of Monday's proceedings.

The status and whereabouts of the two other individuals named in the original charge also remain unclear, with the prosecution identifying them as being at large.

The fresh proceedings will provide the next opportunity for the prosecution to formally present the allegations before the court and for the defendant to respond to the charge.

Until the matter is heard and determined, the allegations against Adeyemi remain accusations rather than established facts.

For now, Justice Umar's decision ends the existing case at the Federal High Court but does not close the legal proceedings initiated by the Federal Government, which has said it is prepared to pursue the case through a fresh prosecution at the FCT High Court.