Court Orders Arrest Of Alleged ‘Fake’ PFIPC DG Adeyemi

The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the self-proclaimed Director-General of the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, after he failed to appear for his arraignment on fraud-related charges.

Justice Mohammed Umar made the order on Tuesday following an oral application by the prosecution counsel, Wisdom Madaki, who told the court that the defendant had repeatedly failed to honour court proceedings.

Adeyemi was scheduled to take his plea on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.

Although the matter was listed for hearing and his lawyer, Genesis Francis, announced appearance on his behalf, the defendant was absent from court.

The prosecution argued that the case had been adjourned several times at the instance of the defendant and urged the court to invoke Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, by issuing a warrant for his arrest.

“My lord, this is the fifth time this case is coming up, and all the adjournments have been at the instance of the defendant,” Madaki told the court.

The application was opposed by the defence counsel, who attributed Adeyemi’s absence to alleged threats to his life.

Francis told the court that his client had appeared for his earlier arraignment on May 16 but had since stayed away because of security concerns.

“Since then, this case has become a matter of public importance, and there have been many threats to his life.

“The defendant is afraid for his life. He has to be alive to be able to face trial. They have been looking for him even without an order of court,” the lawyer argued.

In his ruling, Justice Umar held that the defendant had consistently failed to appear before the court despite previous opportunities.

The judge noted that although the charge was filed on November 27, 2025, and proceedings commenced on December 4, the defendant had appeared only once.

“Since then, he has failed to appear before this court on four consecutive dates,” the judge said.

Justice Umar subsequently ordered security agencies to arrest Adeyemi and produce him before the court on September 30 for his arraignment.

The prosecution has lined up several witnesses, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede and Ituah Sylvester.

Also expected to testify are 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 whereabouts remain unknown.

However, during an interview with Channels Television on Monday, he denied going into hiding to evade law enforcement agencies, insisting that he withdrew from public view because of 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.

Adeyemi also repeated his allegation that he paid N400 million through a proxy to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to secure his appointment as Director-General of the disputed council.

He claimed that those who lent him the money had since reported him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Police investigations had earlier alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment letters and official documents to present the PFIPC as a legitimate federal government agency.

According to investigators, the probe began after the Office of the Chief of Staff petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025, over alleged forgery of official appointment letters purportedly issued from the office.

The petition alleged that the forged documents bore fake signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms and were used to appoint individuals into the alleged non-existent council.

Investigators also alleged that Adeyemi presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.

One of the persons allegedly linked to the case, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, was reported to have died in a hotel fire in Abuja.

Despite the allegations, Adeyemi has continued to insist that the PFIPC exists.

In an open letter to President Tinubu, he called for the establishment of an independent investigative panel to examine the controversy surrounding an alleged N1.3 billion budgetary provision for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

He said he was willing to submit documentary evidence and cooperate fully with investigators once such a panel was constituted.

Adeyemi proposed that the panel should include 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 (ICPC), and the EFCC.

He added that his decision to remain out of public view was reinforced by the circumstances surrounding the death of Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the controversy.