By George Ozalla

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the eight-count criminal charge filed against Adeniyi Adeyemi, accused of presenting himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following the Federal Government’s decision to prosecute him afresh before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar struck out the charge on Monday, October 12, 2026, after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, applied for the termination of the proceedings.

Oyedepo told the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had reviewed the case file and the charge initially filed by the Inspector-General of Police and identified legal shortcomings that required the matter to be heard by another court.

He explained that the documents Adeyemi allegedly forged in connection with the purported agency fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.

The prosecution informed the court that a fresh charge had already been filed before the FCT High Court and that Adeyemi would be arraigned afresh without delay. Oyedepo consequently urged Justice Umar to strike out the existing charge to allow the prosecution to proceed before the appropriate court.

Counsel to Adeyemi, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the application. Justice Umar granted the request and struck out the eight-count charge.

The decision does not amount to an acquittal, as the Federal Government intends to pursue the allegations through the fresh case before the FCT High Court.

Adeyemi was charged alongside two other defendants identified as Femi and Anu, whose whereabouts were reported to be unknown. The case was marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2025.

The charges bordered on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation, including the alleged use of documents purporting to emanate from the Presidency and other government offices.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired to forge a presidential appointment letter, presidential letter-headed papers, an approval for the commencement of the purported council, requests for staff accounts and office accommodation, as well as correspondence seeking collaboration with government ministries and agencies.

One of the counts accused Adeyemi of falsely presenting himself as Director-General of the council, an allegation that remains to be determined by the court.

The controversy dates back to October 2025, when the Office of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, reportedly received complaints concerning individuals allegedly using forged appointment letters and other official documents to operate the purported government agency.

The complaints reportedly followed concerns raised by officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council that the purported council appeared to be operating alongside the recognised investment promotion body.

On October 17, 2025, Gbajabiamila wrote to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, requesting an investigation into the alleged forgery and impersonation.

The Inspector-General of Police subsequently assigned the matter to the IGP Monitoring Unit for investigation. On October 27, 2025, police operatives reportedly arrested Adeyemi at an office he was using at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja. Investigators also obtained a search warrant for the office and his residence in Suleja, Niger State.

According to the police investigation report, Adeyemi told investigators that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola had assisted him in obtaining the purported appointment letter identifying him as Director-General of the PFIPC. Tanimola was reported to have died following a fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Abuja in October 2025.

Investigators also questioned individuals connected to the incident and interviewed three persons reportedly posted to work at Adeyemi’s office. They examined correspondence between him and various ministries, departments and agencies of government.

The police report further stated that investigators traced 34 bank accounts to Adeyemi, including nine accounts allegedly opened in the names of purported government agencies. Documents relating to requests for government approvals, office accommodation and collaboration with public institutions were also listed among the materials recovered or examined.

On November 27, 2025, the police filed the eight-count charge against Adeyemi and the two other defendants at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case attracted wider public attention in June and July 2026 after the Presidency issued statements denying the existence of the PFIPC and the purported Presidential Economic Advisory Council associated with Adeyemi.

In a disclaimer issued on June 11, 2026, Gbajabiamila stated that no such office existed under the Tinubu administration and that his office had not appointed Adeyemi to the position he claimed to hold. The Presidency advised diplomatic missions, financial institutions, multilateral organisations, development agencies and security bodies to take note of its position.

On July 1, 2026, the Presidency issued a further statement addressing the controversy surrounding Adeyemi and the purported councils. It stated that the organisations had no basis in law, presidential instrument, executive approval or any other lawful act of the Federal Government.

President Tinubu subsequently directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the purported PFIPC and related matters, with instructions to submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.

The investigation was expected to examine the alleged use of forged appointment letters and official government documents, claims of presidential appointment, attempts to obtain diplomatic support and visa facilitation, and the opening of bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies.

The controversy raised questions about how an organisation disowned by the Presidency allegedly obtained access to government offices and communicated with public institutions.

Adeyemi, however, maintained that he had done nothing wrong and alleged that the Presidency was attempting to silence him. His position and the allegations against him are matters to be tested through the judicial process.