The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, ordered the arrest of self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, after he failed to appear in court to answer charges bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued a bench warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest after the defendant failed to appear when the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, was called on Tuesday.
Adeyemi was expected to take his plea on an eight-count charge filed against him. The charges, filed by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki on November 27, 2025, also involve two other defendants.
According to Channels Television, the court ordered his arrest following his absence from the proceedings.
Among the prosecution witnesses listed to testify are the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; Ituah Sylvester; two officials of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu; and a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Adeyemi’s absence came a day after he denied reports that he was evading security agencies.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, July 13, 2026, he insisted he was not in hiding but had stayed away from public view 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 who lent him the money had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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 forged documents contained fake signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, creating the false 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 maintained that the PFIPC exists and has called for an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the agency and its reported ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, he requested the establishment 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 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He also pledged to provide documentary evidence and cooperate fully with investigators if such a panel is constituted, insisting that his decision to remain out of the public eye was driven by security concerns and the controversial death of Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the matter.
