The review identified issues with the case, particularly concerning the appropriate court to handle the alleged offences involving documents purportedly used by Adeyemi while operating the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council
By Mmesoma Onwuka
The Federal Government is set to re-arraign Adeniyi Adeyemi before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out an existing eight-count charge against him.
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the charge on Monday following an application by the prosecution, which said the alleged offences fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
Moving the application, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had reviewed Adeyemi’s case file and the charges initially filed by the Inspector-General of Police.
Oyedepo said the review identified issues with the case, particularly concerning the appropriate court to handle the alleged offences involving documents purportedly used by Adeyemi while operating the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
He informed the court that a fresh charge had already been filed before the FCT High Court and that the government intended to proceed with Adeyemi’s arraignment without delay.
The prosecutor consequently urged Justice Umar to strike out the existing charge to pave the way for the fresh proceedings.
Adeyemi’s counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the application. The judge subsequently struck out the eight-count charge.
Adeyemi, 38, had been accused of offences bordering on conspiracy and forgery alongside two other defendants identified as Femi and Anu, whose surnames were not provided in the reports. Their whereabouts were said to be unknown.
The latest development clears the way for the prosecution to pursue the allegations before the FCT High Court, where Adeyemi is expected to face a fresh arraignment.
The striking out of the charge does not amount to either a conviction or an acquittal, as the Federal Government has indicated its intention to continue the prosecution through the new proceedings.