Court Strikes Out Charge Against Alleged Fake PFIPC DG

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged mastermind of a fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following the Federal Government’s decision to arraign him afresh before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the charge after prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said a review by the Attorney General of the Federation identified jurisdictional issues concerning the alleged forgery offences.

Oyedepo told the court that a fresh charge had been filed at the FCT High Court and that Adeyemi would be arraigned there. Defence counsel Ibrahim Angulu, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not oppose the application.

Adeyemi was charged alongside two other defendants whose whereabouts remain unknown over alleged conspiracy and forgery. Police arrested him in Osun State on July 14 after he failed to honour a court summons.

He is accused of operating an unauthorised government agency, establishing an office at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and recruiting staff without legal backing.

The controversy deepened after Adeyemi alleged that Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, received ₦400 million through a proxy to facilitate his appointment. Gbajabiamila denied the allegation.

Tinubu subsequently directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the matter.

ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu said preliminary findings showed that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the purported appointment letter, gazette and other documents used to establish the council were forged.

Aliyu recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution, administrative sanctions against public officers whose alleged negligence enabled the council’s operations, and reforms to strengthen government institutions’ internal controls.

A House of Representatives committee also investigated the matter. Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Didi Esther Walson-Jack acknowledged that due diligence had not been adequately conducted before the purported council was recognised, accepting responsibility for the lapse.

The case is expected to proceed before the FCT High Court, where Adeyemi is to face a fresh arraignment.