The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged director-general of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the charge on Monday after the Federal Government applied to terminate the proceedings, pending Adeyemi’s fresh arraignment before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation had reviewed the case and identified issues with the charge initially filed by the Inspector-General of Police.
Oyedepo said the alleged forged documents involved in the case fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
He informed the court that a fresh charge had been filed before the FCT High Court and that the government intended to arraign Adeyemi without delay.
The prosecution subsequently asked the court to strike out the existing charge.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, did not oppose the application, after which Justice Umar struck out the charge.
The decision does not amount to an acquittal on the allegations, as the government intends to pursue the case through a fresh arraignment.
How the PFIPC scandal emerged
Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State on July 14 and had remained in police custody, according to the report.
Before his arrest, the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered his arrest after he failed to honour a court summons.
The alleged PFIPC reportedly operated like a government agency despite lacking legal standing or a presidential declaration. It was said to have received an allocation in the 2026 budget, occupied an office at the Federal Secretariat and recruited staff.
The scandal attracted public attention after Adeyemi allegedly claimed that Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, received N400 million through a proxy in connection with an appointment letter to the purported agency.
Following public outcry, Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.
Adeyemi had been charged alongside two other defendants whose whereabouts were reportedly unknown. The charges bordered on alleged conspiracy and forgery.
The fresh proceedings before the FCT High Court are expected to determine the next stage of the case.