The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out the eight-count forgery charge against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Mohammed Umar terminated further proceedings in the case following an application by the Federal Government, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Oyedepo informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), after reviewing the case file, identified issues that informed the decision to withdraw the charge.
He said the government had concluded plans to transfer the matter to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for a fresh arraignment of the defendant.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences involving the documents Adeyemi was accused of forging could be prosecuted at the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
The defendant’s counsel, Mr Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the prosecution’s application for the charge to be struck out.
The case was initially instituted by the police before the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the prosecution at the previous adjourned sitting.
Adeyemi, who has been in detention since July 14 following his arrest on the strength of a bench warrant issued by the court, was arraigned over allegations bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation.
After he pleaded not guilty to the charges, the court ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed a date for further proceedings.
The defendant subsequently sought bail, telling the court that he was suffering from a contagious ailment that required urgent medical attention from his doctors.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the government had adequate medical facilities to address his health needs.
The scheduled hearing of the bail application was stalled following the withdrawal of the charge.
Those earlier listed as prospective witnesses included the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.
Other proposed witnesses included civil servants in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The planned fresh arraignment at the FCT High Court is expected to determine the next stage of the case.
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