PFIPC scandal: FG seeks fresh arraignment of Adeyemi as court strikes out eight-count charge

The Federal Government is set to arraign Adeniyi Adeyemi, accused of establishing the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), afresh after a Federal High Court in Abuja struck out an eight-count charge against him.
Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge, struck out the charge on Monday following an application by the Federal Government to discontinue the proceedings and pursue a fresh case 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 file and identified issues with the charge initially filed by the inspector-general of police.
Oyedepo, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said the allegations involving forged documents in the operation of the purported agency fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
He said 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. Ibrahim Angulu, counsel to Adeyemi, did not oppose the application, and the judge granted it.
The decision does not determine the merits of the allegations against Adeyemi, who is expected to face a fresh arraignment before the FCT High Court.
Adeyemi has been in police custody since his arrest in Osun State on July 14. Before his arrest, a Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered his arrest after he failed to honour the court’s summons.
The case centres on allegations that Adeyemi established and operated the PFIPC without legal authorisation or a presidential declaration.
The purported council reportedly received an allocation in the 2026 budget, occupied office space at the Federal Secretariat and recruited staff.
Adeyemi had alleged 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 over the allegations, Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.
The fresh charge will determine the next stage of the case against Adeyemi before the FCT High Court.