By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), after he failed to appear in court to answer criminal charges.
Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Adeyemi’s arrest on Tuesday when the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, came up for arraignment.
Adeyemi was expected to take his plea on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation but was absent when the matter was called.
The charges, filed by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki on November 27, 2025, also involve two other defendants.
Following the defendant’s absence, the court granted the prosecution’s request and issued a warrant for his arrest.
The prosecution listed several witnesses expected to testify during the trial, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede, Ituah Sylvester, officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Adeyemi’s failure to appear came a day after he denied reports that he was evading security agencies.
Speaking during a television interview on Monday, he insisted he was not in hiding but had withdrawn from public activities because of alleged threats to his life.
“I’m ready to show my face. I’m not hiding. I’m only fearing for my life because I have it on good authority that my life is in danger. There have been several attempts on my life,” he said.
He also repeated his claim that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure his appointment as Director-General of the disputed council, alleging that those from whom he borrowed the money had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the transaction.
Police investigations into the alleged PFIPC scandal began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025, over the circulation of forged appointment letters purportedly issued from the office.
Investigators alleged that the documents contained forged signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, creating the impression that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was a legitimate Federal Government agency.
The police further alleged that Adeyemi presented himself as the council’s Director-General and operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
Investigators also linked the alleged scheme to Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, who reportedly died in a hotel fire in Abuja.
Despite the allegations, Adeyemi has maintained that the PFIPC is a legitimate institution and recently called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the controversy surrounding the agency and its reported ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
He said he was prepared to submit documentary evidence and cooperate fully with investigators if such a panel is constituted, insisting that his absence from public view was solely due to concerns over his safety.
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