The Federal Government has withdrawn an eight-count criminal charge against erstwhile Director-General of Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.
Prince Matthew, it could be recalled, was appointed PFIPC Director-General, a presidential agency which has now been declared fake following investigations.
The Government has, meanwhile, currently initiated fresh proceedings against him before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The development followed a review of the original case by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), which reportedly identified legal and procedural gaps in the charges filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
On Monday, October 12, 2026, the Federal High Court struck out the original charge.
The development followed after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the government intended to pursue the case before the appropriate court.
Why the Federal High Court Struck Out the Charge
The case was heard by Justice Mohammed Umar, who granted the prosecution’s application to strike out the eight-count charge.
Oyedepo told the court that a review of the case file had revealed shortcomings in the original charges.
He explained that the alleged offences involving documents said to have been forged by Adeyemi could be prosecuted before the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.
The prosecution subsequently disclosed that fresh charges had been filed before the FCT High Court, where Adeyemi was expected to be arraigned again.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the application to strike out the original charge.
The withdrawal of the original case, therefore, did not amount to an announcement that the Federal Government had abandoned the prosecution.
Rather, the government said it intended to continue the proceedings through a fresh charge before another court.
Background: Allegations Against Adeniyi Adeyemi
Adeyemi was facing allegations of forgery, impersonation and conspiracy relating to the purported Presidential Council.
According to the prosecution’s case, he allegedly presented himself as the agency’s director-general.
He also allegedly used documents purportedly bearing official presidential authorisation to secure recognition and engage with government institutions.
The Presidency has maintained that the purported agency was neither established nor authorised by the government.
The allegations attracted public attention after reports indicated that the purported council had operated from office space at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
It had also interacted with public institutions over administrative and financial matters.
The purported agency had also obtained office accommodation and secured a budget allocation.
Meanwhile, authorities alleged that documents had been used to present it as a legitimate government institution.
Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and maintained that he was duly appointed.
Gbajabiamila Listed Among Prosecution Witnesses
President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, was among the witnesses listed in the original prosecution’s case against Adeyemi.
Court-related reports said Gbajabiamila had petitioned the police over alleged forgery and impersonation.
This includes the purported use of documents bearing his signature and official presidential references.
Other proposed witnesses included Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede, Ituah Sylvester and officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, as well as a police officer.
Gbajabiamila’s proposed testimony was connected to the prosecution’s allegations concerning the authenticity of documents and the operation of the purported agency.
Adeyemi Had Pleaded Not Guilty
Before the original charge was struck out, Adeyemi had pleaded not guilty to the allegations and was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Reports indicated that he had sought bail, citing a medical condition requiring attention from his doctors.
The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the government’s facilities could meet his healthcare needs.
The scheduled consideration of his bail application was overtaken by the withdrawal of the original charge.
The subsequent filing of fresh charges shifted the proceedings to the FCT High Court.
What Happens Next?
The fresh proceedings will determine how the allegations are considered by the FCT High Court.
Adeyemi remains entitled to the presumption of innocence, and the allegations must be established through the judicial process.
The case has also raised questions about how the purported agency allegedly gained access to government offices and interacted with public institutions before authorities challenged its legitimacy.
The fresh prosecution may provide another opportunity for the court to examine the allegations and the evidence supporting them.
For now, the key development is that the Federal Government has withdrawn the original charge on stated legal and jurisdictional grounds while moving to pursue a fresh case before the FCT High Court.
The outcome of the new proceedings will determine the legal consequences, if any, arising from the allegations against Adeyemi.
