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Breaking: Court strikes out FG’s eight-count charge against alleged fake PFIPC DG Adeyemi
A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed by the Federal Government against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who was accused of impersonating the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar struck out the charge on Monday, October 12, 2026, following an application by the Federal Government to withdraw the case and arraign Adeyemi afresh before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had reviewed the case file and identified legal issues with the existing charge.
Oyedepo explained that the documents Adeyemi was accused of forging could be prosecuted before the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
He subsequently asked the court to strike out the charge to allow the prosecution to proceed in the appropriate court.
Counsel to Adeyemi, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the application, after which Justice Umar granted the request and struck out the charge.
According to the prosecution, a fresh charge had already been filed before the High Court of the FCT, where Adeyemi is expected to be arraigned again.
Adeyemi had been facing an eight-count charge alongside two other defendants identified as Femi and Anu, whose surnames were not provided in the charge and who were reported to be at large.
The allegations included conspiracy, forgery and impersonation relating to the purported government agency and documents allegedly bearing official presidential letterheads and appointment details.
The case followed a June 11, 2026, statement by the Office of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, which said the government had neither established the PFIPC under the administration nor appointed Adeyemi to head such an organisation.
The statement advised members of the public and relevant institutions that the purported appointment was not authorised by the Presidency.
Adeyemi has previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.
The striking out of the charge at the Federal High Court does not amount to an acquittal on the allegations, as the prosecution has indicated its intention to pursue the case through a fresh arraignment before the FCT High Court.