A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, after he failed to appear in court to answer allegations of forgery, fraud and impersonation.
Justice Umar Mohammed issued the bench warrant on Tuesday when Adeyemi was absent at the hearing of the criminal case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, where he was expected to take his plea on an eight-count charge filed against him.
The charges, instituted by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki on November 27, 2025, also involve two other defendants.
The prosecution has lined up several high-profile witnesses, including 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—as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Adeyemi’s absence came barely 24 hours after he publicly denied reports that he was evading security agencies.
Speaking on Monday, he insisted he was not in hiding but had stayed away from the public 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.
According to him, those who lent him the money have since petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the transaction.
Police had earlier disclosed that investigations into the PFIPC controversy 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 alleged forged appointment letters purportedly issued from the office.
Investigators alleged that the documents bore fake signatures, forged reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, giving the impression that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was a legitimate Federal Government agency.
Despite the allegations, Adeyemi has maintained that the PFIPC is a lawful entity and has called for an independent investigation into the controversy, including the reported ₦1.3 billion allocation to the council 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, international financial institutions, diplomatic missions, the ICPC and the EFCC.
He also pledged to submit documentary evidence and cooperate fully with any independent investigation, insisting that his decision to remain out of the public eye was prompted by security concerns and the controversial death of Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the matter.
