By Ghazali Ibrahim
A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed by the Federal Government against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged director-general of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the charge on Monday, October 12, 2026, following an application by the Federal Government to terminate the proceedings ahead of Adeyemi’s fresh arraignment before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Rotimi Oyedepo, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation had reviewed the case and identified jurisdictional issues with the charge initially filed by the Inspector-General of Police.
Oyedepo said the alleged offences involving forged documents fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
He added that a fresh charge had been filed and the government intended to arraign Adeyemi again without delay.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, did not oppose the application, prompting the judge to strike out the existing charge.
The decision does not amount to an acquittal, as the Federal Government intends to continue the prosecution at the FCT High Court.
Adeyemi was accused of operating the purported agency despite the Presidency’s position that it had neither established nor authorised the organisation. The alleged scheme reportedly secured office space at the Federal Secretariat, recruited staff and obtained an allocation in the 2026 federal budget.
The case attracted public attention over allegations that the purported agency operated within government structures despite questions about its legal status.
Adeyemi had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The fresh arraignment is expected to determine the next stage of the prosecution.
