By Vivian Okejeme
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court Abuja, Tuesday, granted a warrant of arrest against Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director -General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), after he failed to appear before him to take plea on his arraignment.
The Nigeria Police force is prosecuting Adeyemi on an eight-count charge of alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
Mr Adeyemi is accused of operating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an agency the Presidency has said does not exist.
Following his absence in court, counsel to the prosecution, Wisdom Madaki, made an oral application asking the court to issue a bench warrant for Mr Adeyemi’s arrest.
Responding, counsel to Mr Adeyemi, Genesis Francis, told the court that his client feared for his life and had written a letter to President Bola Tinubu, adding that Mr Adeyemi intended to stay alive to face his trial.
In a bench ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar said the court would “help him be alive” and consequently, ordered a bench warrant against him.
The matter is adjourned until 30 September for arraignment.
Recall that the federal government, through the Nigeria Police Force, filed an eight-count charge against Mr Adeyemi on 27 November last year, accusing him of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
In counts one, two, three, four, six, seven and eight, the prosecution, led by Wisdom Madaki, accused
Mr Adeyemi alongside two others identified as Femi and Anu, at large, were alleged to have conspired and forged several official documents.
The documents include a purported presidential appointment letter, State House letterheads, a conveyance approval for the take-off of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), requests for approval of staff accounts, requests for office space and letters seeking collaboration with a federal ministry.
The prosecution also alleged that Mr Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, an offence punishable under Section 179 of the Penal Code.
According to the prosecution, the defendant if convicted risks 21 years imprisonment without the option of a fine on the forgery-related counts.
While conviction on the alleged impersonation charge carries carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment or a fine.
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