ABUJA, NIGERIA:  A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). Adeyemi failed to appear in court for his scheduled arraignment on charges involving conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.

Justice Mohammed Umar ordered the arrest following an oral application by the prosecution, which was prompted by the defendant's absence when the case was called.

Adeyemi was scheduled to enter his plea on an eight-count charge brought by the Nigeria Police Force. The prosecution accuses him of illegally operating the PFIPC, an organization that the Nigerian Presidency has declared non-existent. The case, registered under file number FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, has faced multiple delays.

Safety Concerns and Defense Arguments

During the proceedings, prosecution counsel Wisdom Madaki requested the bench warrant. In response, defense counsel Genesis Francis explained that his client did not appear because he feared for his safety. Francis stated that Adeyemi had written to President Bola Tinubu regarding these threats and expressed his client's desire to remain secure in order to stand trial.

Justice Umar rejected the defense's argument, stating that the court would ensure the defendant's safety through legal custody before ordering the bench warrant. The court subsequently adjourned the matter until September 30, 2026, for formal arraignment.

Details of the Charges

The Federal Government filed the criminal charges on November 27, 2025. The prosecution accuses Adeyemi alongside two other individuals, identified as Femi and Anu, both of whom remain at large.

The charges allege that the defendants forged several official documents to give the fake agency a semblance of legitimacy. The forged materials reportedly included:

• A presidential appointment letter

• State House letterheads

• An establishment approval letter for the PFIPC

• Formal requests to approve staff accounts and secure office space

• Letters seeking collaboration with a federal ministry

Specifically, the prosecution states that on or about March 8, 2024, the defendants forged an appointment letter bearing the forged signature of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. This act violates the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Additionally, Adeyemi faces charges under the Penal Code for falsely presenting himself as a public official. If convicted of the forgery-related offenses, he faces up to 21 years of imprisonment without the option of a fine. The impersonation charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison or an applicable fine.

Defendant’s Claims and Backstory

Adeyemi’s failure to appear in court occurred shortly after he publicly denied that he was evading law enforcement. Speaking on Channels Television, Adeyemi asserted that he was not hiding but was instead concerned for his life due to active threats against him. He also reiterated claims that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure the Director-General position, adding that the individuals who lent him the funds have since filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Police investigations began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025, regarding forged appointment letters. Investigators state that these documents featured counterfeit signatures, reference numbers, official seals, and the Nigerian Coat of Arms. Adeyemi allegedly used these documents to secure an office space within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.

The police investigation has also linked the operations to Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, an associate who reportedly died in an Abuja hotel fire.

Despite the ongoing prosecution, Adeyemi maintains that the investment council is legitimate. He has pointed to a reported ₦1.3 billion allocation for the agency in the 2026 Appropriation Act as proof of its existence. In an open letter to President Tinubu, Adeyemi called for an independent, multi-stakeholder investigative panel to look into the matter, promising to provide documentary evidence if his safety can be guaranteed.