The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed by the Federal Government against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly posed as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the case following an application by the prosecution, which said the charges would be refiled before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
At the proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court that a review of the case by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had revealed issues with the charges.
Oyedepo explained that the alleged forged documents linked to Adeyemi’s activities fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
He informed the court that a fresh charge had already been filed before the FCT High Court and that the defendant would be arraigned there.
The prosecution subsequently asked Justice Umar to strike out the existing charges to enable the case to proceed before the appropriate court.
Counsel to Adeyemi, Ibrahim Angulu, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not oppose the application.
The judge consequently granted the request and struck out the charges.
Adeyemi had been facing trial alongside two other defendants whose whereabouts were unknown. The charges bordered on alleged conspiracy and forgery.
The planned fresh arraignment is expected to allow the case to continue before the court with the appropriate jurisdiction.
