Court Strikes Out Charge Against PFIPC’s Adeyemi, FG Plans Fresh Arraignment

The Federal Government will arraign Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), afresh after a Federal High Court in Abuja struck out the existing criminal charge against him.

Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the eight-count charge on Monday following an application by the Federal Government to discontinue the case pending Adeyemi’s fresh arraignment before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Rotimi Oyedepo, director of public prosecutions of the federation, 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, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, explained that the alleged forged documents linked to Adeyemi’s operations fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.

He said the government had filed a fresh charge before the FCT High Court and planned to arraign Adeyemi without delay.

The prosecution subsequently asked the court to strike out the existing charge. Ibrahim Angulu, Adeyemi’s lawyer, did not oppose the application.

Justice Umar granted the request and struck out the charge.

Background

Adeyemi has been in police custody since his arrest in Osun State on July 14, 2026.

Before his arrest, the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered his arrest after he failed to honour the court’s summons.

Adeyemi allegedly established and operated the purported PFIPC as a government agency despite its lack of legal recognition or presidential approval.

The organisation reportedly received an allocation in the 2026 budget, occupied an office at the Federal Secretariat and recruited staff.

Adeyemi had also alleged that Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, received N400 million through a proxy in connection with an appointment letter into the purported agency.

Following public outrage over the allegations, President Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the PFIPC scandal.