From Victor Osula Abuja
The Federal Government on Monday withdrew the eight-count forgery case against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-appointed Director-General of the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), but said it would institute fresh charges against him before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently struck out the case after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, applied to discontinue the proceedings.
Oyedepo told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), after reviewing the case file, discovered some “loopholes” that informed the decision to withdraw the charge and commence fresh proceedings before the appropriate court.
The development effectively terminated the case before the Federal High Court but does not end the Federal Government’s prosecution of Adeyemi over allegations of forgery, fraud and impersonation.
The DPPF said arrangements had been concluded to take the matter before the FCT High Court, where Adeyemi would be freshly arraigned.
According to him, the documents Adeyemi allegedly forged in the course of operating the disputed PFIPC could appropriately form the subject of prosecution before the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
Adeyemi’s counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the Federal Government’s application to withdraw the case.
Justice Umar consequently struck out the eight-count charge and terminated further proceedings before his court.
The withdrawal also halted the scheduled hearing of Adeyemi’s bail application.
Adeyemi had asked the court to release him on bail on health grounds, claiming that he was suffering from a contagious ailment requiring urgent medical attention from his doctors.
The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the government had adequate facilities to address his medical needs while in custody.
He had been in detention following his arrest on the strength of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment.
Upon his eventual arraignment, Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to the allegations against him, prompting the court to order his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
The criminal case arose from allegations that Adeyemi held himself out as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, a body the authorities described as an unauthorised or non-existent government agency.
The controversy centred on claims that official documents were forged and used to create the impression that the PFIPC and Adeyemi’s purported appointment had the backing of the Presidency.
The matter subsequently attracted investigations by security and anti-corruption authorities and culminated in criminal proceedings against Adeyemi.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation later took over the prosecution from the police at the previous sitting of the Federal High Court.
That intervention led to a review of the case file, which the prosecution said exposed the legal issues that prompted Monday’s withdrawal.
The government, however, stressed that it was changing the forum for the prosecution rather than abandoning the allegations against Adeyemi.
The fresh proceedings expected before the FCT High Court will therefore determine whether the prosecution can establish its allegations concerning the disputed documents and Adeyemi’s activities under the PFIPC.
Among those earlier lined up to testify in the withdrawn case was the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Others listed as prospective prosecution witnesses included Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede and Ituah Sylvester.
Civil servants working in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, identified as Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were also expected to give evidence.
