Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Adeyemi was apprehended in Osun state by operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) after he failed to appear in court to answer an eight-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
Justice Mohammed Umar ordered his arrest after granting an oral application by the prosecution when the defendant was absent during Tuesday’s proceedings. The case has been adjourned until September 30th, 2026, for his arraignment.
His lawyer, Genesis Francis, told the court that Adeyemi stayed away because he feared for his life and had written to President Bola Tinubu over alleged security threats. The judge, however, assured that the court would guarantee his safety before approving the bench warrant.
Police authorities later confirmed that Adeyemi had been arrested and transferred to Abuja. Security sources said he allegedly switched off his mobile phones for two days while evading arrest. He was reportedly tracked by the Department of State Services (DSS) before police operatives located and arrested him.
The police filed charges against Adeyemi in November 2025, accusing him and two other suspects, who remain at large, of forging official government documents, including a fake presidential appointment letter and documents linked to the creation of the alleged PFIPC—an organisation the Presidency says does not exist.
He is also accused of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the council.
Just a day before his arrest, Adeyemi released an open letter asking President Tinubu to guarantee his safety before he surrendered to security agencies. He also called for an independent investigation into the PFIPC controversy, claiming his life was under threat.
Reacting to the development, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the President’s directive for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a fresh investigation could widen the probe if new evidence emerges.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Sam Erugo, also said investigators should question anyone linked to the allegations, including senior government officials, if the evidence warrants it. He, however, noted that political realities could complicate such moves while those officials remain in office.
Erugo also criticised Adeyemi’s decision to evade trial, arguing that appearing before the court and using the legal process to present his defence would have been a more appropriate course of action.
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