The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out the eight-count forgery charge brought against the self-styled Director-General (DG) of the alleged “non-existent” Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.

Justice Mohammed Umar terminated further proceedings in the case following an application by the Federal Government, which was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

It will be recalled that although the charge was originally brought before the court by the police, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) took over the prosecution at the last adjourned date.

When the matter was called on Monday, the DPPF notified the court that the AGF, after a proper review of the case file, had found some loopholes that informed his decision to withdraw the charge.

He told the court that the government had concluded plans to move the case to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for a fresh arraignment of the defendant.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has sworn in 68 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at the ceremony marking the 2026/2027 legal year.

The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) reported the development accompanied by a video and photographs shared on its official X handle, on Monday.

During her address at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja, Kekere-Ekun urged judicial officers to embrace reforms aimed at accelerating the administration of justice, citing the increasing number of cases before the courts.

She also encouraged judges to leverage technology to improve the adjudication of cases.

Reviewing the judiciary’s performance in the year under review, the CJN disclosed that more than 2,000 cases were filed at the Supreme Court, with civil matters accounting for the majority.

Kekere-Ekun also cautioned legal practitioners against discrediting court judgments in the media.

A fire has broken out at a First Bank of Nigeria branch along the busy Abuja-Keffi Road, with thick black smoke billowing from the building this afternoon.

Videos circulating on social media show flames and heavy smoke rising from the structure, identified by multiple eyewitnesses as the First Bank location in the Mararaba/Karu area of the expressway. Bystanders can be seen attempting to douse the blaze with buckets of water amid reports that fire service response was delayed or absent in the initial moments.

The exact cause of the fire remains unconfirmed at this time. There are no immediate reports of casualties, though the full extent of damage to the bank building and any impact on surrounding properties or traffic along the heavily congested Abuja-Keffi corridor is still being assessed.

Emergency responders, including fire service personnel, are expected on the scene. Commuters and residents in the Nyanya-Mararaba-Karu axis are advised to exercise caution as the incident may cause further traffic disruptions on the already busy route.

Further updates will follow as more details emerge from official sources.