… FG to Re-arraign Adeniyi Adeyemi at FCT High Court over Alleged Forgery
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed by the Federal Government against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged fake Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The judge struck out the charge following an application by the prosecution, which said the case would be transferred to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for a fresh arraignment.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, moved the application to terminate the charges.
Oyedepo told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had reviewed the case file and the charge initially filed by the Inspector-General of Police, identifying legal issues that required a change of court.
He explained that the documents allegedly forged by Adeyemi in connection with the operation of the purported agency fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation said a fresh charge had been filed before the FCT High Court and that Adeyemi would be arraigned there without delay.
He urged the court to strike out the existing charge in accordance with the law.
Counsel to Adeyemi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ibrahim Angulu, did not oppose the application. Justice Umar subsequently struck out the charge.
Adeyemi had been facing trial alongside two other defendants, whose whereabouts were unknown, over allegations bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
The case is expected to proceed before the FCT High Court, where the accused will face a fresh arraignment.