Kamsi Anayo and Fidelia Soriwei
Security operatives on Tuesday arrested Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear for his arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.
The judge had also set 30 September as the new date for defendant’s arraignment.
Adeyemi faces eight charges relating to his running and operation of purported PFIPC, an agency the Presidency has said does not exist.
The arrest came moments after the court directed security agencies to apprehend him and produce him before the court. A video of the arrest was later captured by TVC.
Police counsel, Wisdom Madaki, had urged the court to issue a warrant, arguing that the defendant had repeatedly failed to appear for trial and had frustrated efforts to proceed with the case.
He told the court that Tuesday’s sitting was the fifth scheduled hearing and relied on Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to support his application.
Defence counsel, Genesis Francis, opposed the request, maintaining that his client stayed away from court because of threats to his life.
However, Justice Umar noted that Adeyemi had appeared only once since the charges were filed on November 27, 2025, and had missed four consecutive court dates.
Adeyemi is facing charges linked to the alleged operation of the PFIPC, which investigators say has no legal backing.
The prosecution accused him of forging official documents and falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the organisation.
According to investigators, the documents allegedly contained fake signatures, official seals, reference numbers and the Nigerian Coat of Arms and were used to portray the PFIPC as a legitimate government agency.
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 also alleged that Adeyemi operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and issued appointments into the purported agency.
Among those expected to testify in the trial are Gbajabiamila, officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, police officers and other witnesses involved in the investigation.
Before his arrest, Adeyemi had insisted in a television interview that he was not in hiding and maintained that the PFIPC was not a fictitious organisation, adding that he was prepared to present documents in his defence.
Adeyemi’s case was listed as number 12 on the court’s cause list. Although no specific time was fixed for the hearing, parties in matters scheduled for the day, particularly defendants in criminal cases whose presence is mandatory, are expected to be in court before proceedings begin.
The Nigerian 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 and two others identified as Femi and Anu, who are said to be at large, of conspiracy and forgery involving 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.
In count five, the prosecution alleged that Mr Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, an offence punishable under Section 179 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, Adeyemi faces up to 21 years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine on the forgery-related counts. The impersonation charge carries a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment or a fine.
