The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of the embattled self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, after he failed to appear in court for his scheduled arraignment.
Adeyemi was expected to take his plea before Justice Mohammed Umar on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, was listed for hearing, but the defendant was absent when the matter was called.
According to the report, the court issued a warrant for his arrest following his failure to appear.
The charges were filed by police prosecutor, Wisdom Madaki, on November 27, 2025, and also involve two other defendants.
TNL had earlier reported that the police were set to arraign Adeyemi before the Federal High Court on the eight-count charge, in which he was accused of operating the disputed PFIPC from the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, before his arrest.
According to court documents earlier reported, witnesses listed by the prosecution include 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; and a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Other listed witnesses include Ojo Victor, Omeh Amarachukwu and Wakili Saidu, who were allegedly posted to work with Adeyemi at the disputed agency, as well as Joy Ngwoke, owner of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, and Ven. Okoriko, pastor of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama.
The documentary evidence listed by the police includes the police investigation report, Gbajabiamila’s petition dated October 17, 2025, Adeyemi’s alleged fake presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024, requests for note verbale sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approvals allegedly obtained to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, request for self-accounting status sent to the OAGF and approval for the take-off of the PFIPC.
Adeyemi’s absence came barely a day after he denied reports that he was hiding from security agencies.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, he said he had withdrawn from public view because his life was allegedly under threat.
“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,” he said.
“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, the persons from whom he borrowed the money had since petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, demanding a refund.
The police had earlier said 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 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 Director-General of the council and operated from an office inside 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.
TNL had earlier reported that the Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the police filed the charge against Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices after investigations allegedly established that the PFIPC was fictitious and that forged documents were used to give the body the appearance of official legitimacy.
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, ICPC, and the EFCC.
Adeyemi also pledged to provide documentary evidence and cooperate with investigators if such a panel is established.
President Tinubu had earlier directed the ICPC to investigate the activities of the purported council and report back within 30 days.
The latest arrest order marks a new turn in the PFIPC controversy, which has widened from alleged forgery and impersonation into broader questions about budgetary scrutiny, official correspondence, bank accounts, institutional access and the integrity of government processes.
Adeyemi and the other defendants have not been convicted of the allegations.
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