A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council(PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, after he failed to appear for his arraignment over alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Adeyemi’s arrest on Tuesday after granting an oral application by the prosecution following the defendant’s absence when the matter was called.
Adeyemi was expected to take his plea on an eight-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force over his alleged operation of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has said does not exist.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, has suffered repeated adjournments.
When the prosecution, led by Wisdom Madaki, applied for a bench warrant, Adeyemi’s counsel, Genesis Francis, told the court that his client feared for his life and had written to President Bola Tinubu.
According to the lawyer, the defendant intended to remain alive to stand trial.
Responding, Justice Umar said, “The court will help him be alive,” before ordering that a bench warrant be issued for Adeyemi’s arrest.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until September 30, 2026, for arraignment.
The Federal Government, through the police, filed the charges on November 27, 2025, accusing Adeyemi and two other suspects identified simply as Femi and Anu, who are said to be at large, of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly forged several official documents, including a purported presidential appointment letter, State House letterheads, a conveyance approval for the establishment of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, requests for approval of staff accounts, applications for office space and letters seeking collaboration with a federal ministry.
Count Two reads, “That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ 38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi, surname unknown and Anu, surname unknown, now at large, on or about 8th day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged appointment letter purported to have been appointed by his Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President Federal Republic of Nigeria, and signed by Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2)(c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.”
The prosecution also alleged that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the purported council, contrary to Section 179 of the Penal Code.
Count Five reads, “That you, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ 38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, sometime between 2024 and 2025 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely personates as the Director General of Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 179 of the Penal Code.
If convicted on the forgery-related counts, Adeyemi faces up to 21 years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine, while the impersonation charge attracts a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment or a fine.
His absence from court came barely a day after he denied reports that he was hiding from security agencies.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Adeyemi said, “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 also repeated his allegation that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure his appointment as Director-General of the disputed council.
According to him, those from whom he borrowed the money have since petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the transaction.
The police had earlier disclosed that 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 forged documents contained fake signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms and were used to create the impression that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was a legitimate Federal Government agency.
Police further alleged that Adeyemi presented himself as the Director-General of the council and operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
The investigation also linked the alleged scheme to Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, who reportedly died in a hotel fire in Abuja.
Despite the allegations, Adeyemi has continued to insist that the PFIPC exists and has called for an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the agency and its reported ₦1.3bn allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, he requested the constitution of a multi-stakeholder investigative panel comprising representatives of civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, independent media organisations, international financial institutions, human rights groups, diplomatic missions, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the EFCC.
He also pledged to provide documentary evidence and cooperate fully with investigators if such a panel is established, maintaining that his decision to remain out of the public eye was influenced by alleged threats to his safety and the controversial death of Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the matter.
Credit: Punch
