Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has been taken into custody.
His arrest, filmed by TVC, occurred immediately after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant over charges of forgery, fraud, and impersonation.
On Tuesday, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear for his arraignment on an eight-count criminal indictment.
The prosecution, led by police counsel Wisdom Madaki, applied for the warrant after informing the court that the defendant had consistently frustrated proceedings.
Madaki highlighted that this was the fifth scheduled hearing for the matter, with previous adjournments all granted at the defendant’s request. He invoked Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to compel Adeyemi’s attendance.
Although defence counsel Genesis Francis countered that his client was absent due to security threats, Justice Umar ruled against the defense.
The judge noted that Adeyemi had ignored four consecutive court dates, appearing only once since the charges were originally filed on November 27, 2025.
The judge consequently directed security agencies to arrest him and produce him before the court for arraignment.
Adeyemi is facing charges bordering on alleged forgery of official documents, fraud and impersonation in connection with the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, which investigators say has no legal backing.
Police investigations began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over alleged forged appointment letters purportedly issued from the office.
Investigators alleged that the forged documents bore fake signatures, official seals, reference numbers and the Nigerian Coat of Arms and were used to create the impression that the PFIPC was a legitimate Federal Government agency.
Adeyemi is also accused of presenting himself as Director-General of the council and operating from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja while issuing appointments into the purported agency.
Among those expected to testify in the case are Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, police officers and other witnesses connected with the investigation.
Persecondnews recalls that before security operatives caught up with him, Adeyemi had defended himself on television, arguing that threats on his life—not a desire to hide—kept him out of the public eye.
He maintained that the PFIPC is a legitimate organization and called for an independent inquiry, claiming he has the documentary evidence to clear his name.
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