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The Nigerian High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-proclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The court issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear on Tuesday.
Adeyemi was expected to take his plea before Justice Mohammed Umar on eight counts of 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.
The charges, which were filed by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki on November 27, 2025, also involve two other defendants.
Among the prosecution witnesses expected to testify during the trial 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 barely a day after he publicly denied reports that he was hiding from security agencies.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Adeyemi claimed he had withdrawn from public view because his life was under threat.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. There have been several attempts on my life,” he said.
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 individuals from whom he borrowed the money have since petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the transaction.
The police had earlier disclosed that 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 by the office.
Investigators alleged that the forged 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 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 continued to insist 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 addressed 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.
He also promised to provide documents and to fully cooperate with investigators if the panel is established.
He said he stayed away from the public because of threats to his safety and the controversial death of Tanimola, whom he described as an important link in the case.
