Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State by officers of the Intelligence Response Team after failing to appear before the court to answer an eight-count charge involving alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
Justice Mohammed Umar ordered his arrest after granting an oral application by the prosecution, led by Wisdom Madaki, when the defendant was absent during Tuesday's proceedings. The case was later adjourned until September 30, 2026, for his arraignment.
Adeyemi's lawyer, Genesis Francis, had told the court that his client stayed away because he feared for his life and had written to President Bola Tinubu over alleged threats. In response, the judge remarked that the court would ensure his safety before approving the bench warrant.
The Force Public Relations Officer's aide, Aminu Koji, later confirmed the arrest, stating that Adeyemi was apprehended in Osun State and taken into custody by the Intelligence Response Team.
According to security sources, Adeyemi had reportedly switched off his mobile phones for two days while evading arrest. He was initially tracked by operatives of the Department of State Services before the police IRT eventually located and arrested him on Tuesday morning. He was reportedly moved from Osun to Ibadan and later transferred to Abuja.
The police filed charges against Adeyemi in November 2025, accusing him and two other suspects still at large of forging official government documents, including a fake presidential appointment letter and documents linked to the creation of the alleged PFIPC, an organisation the Presidency insists does not exist.
The charges also accuse him of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the council.
Just a day before his arrest, Adeyemi had released an open letter urging President Tinubu to guarantee his safety before surrendering to security agencies. He also called for an independent panel to investigate the PFIPC controversy, claiming he had received intelligence that his life was in danger.
Following his arrest, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), said Tinubu's directive for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to carry out a fresh investigation could lead to a wider probe involving other individuals if evidence supports it.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Sam Erugo, also argued that anyone mentioned during the investigation, including the President's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, should ordinarily be questioned by investigators. However, he acknowledged that such a move would be difficult while Gbajabiamila remains in office, citing political realities.
Erugo also criticised Adeyemi for allegedly evading trial, saying facing the court would have been a better legal strategy than going into hiding. He maintained that if Adeyemi believed certain officials were relevant to his defence, he could use the court process to compel them to testify rather than avoid prosecution.
