The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following his failure to appear for arraignment on multiple criminal charges.
Justice Mohammed Umar granted the order on Tuesday after the prosecution, represented by police counsel Wisdom Madaki, urged the court to compel Adeyemi’s appearance.
The defendant is expected to answer an eight-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.
Although the case was listed as the twelfth matter on the court’s cause list, Adeyemi failed to appear for arraignment.
His counsel, Genesis Francis, however, informed the court that he was representing the defendant.
While addressing the court, the prosecution argued that Adeyemi had consistently failed to appear despite repeated adjournments.
“My lord, this is the fifth time this case is coming up, and all the adjournments have been at the instance of the defendant,” Madaki submitted.
Relying on Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the prosecution requested the court to issue a warrant for the defendant’s arrest.
The application was opposed by the defence, which maintained that Adeyemi’s absence was due to fears for his personal safety.
According to Francis, his client attended court on May 16 before the matter was adjourned and had since become the subject of widespread public attention.
“Since then, this case has become a matter of public importance, and there have been many threats to his life.
“The defendant is afraid for his life. He has to be alive to be able to face trial. They have been looking for him even without an order of court,” the defence lawyer argued.
After considering submissions from both parties, Justice Umar ruled in favour of the prosecution.
The judge observed that although the charge was filed on November 27, 2025, proceedings only commenced on December 4 of the same year.
He further noted that Adeyemi had appeared before the court only once since the commencement of the proceedings.
“Since then, he has failed to appear before this court on four consecutive dates,” Justice Umar stated.
The court consequently issued a bench warrant directing all relevant security agencies to arrest the defendant and produce him before the court on September 30 for arraignment.
Among those expected to testify during the trial are the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede and Ituah Sylvester.
Other prosecution witnesses include civil servants attached to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Adeyemi, whose whereabouts remain unknown, had insisted during an interview with Channels Television on Monday that he was not evading law enforcement authorities.
“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 a proxy to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to facilitate his appointment as Director-General of the controversial council.
According to Adeyemi, the money was borrowed, and the individuals who provided the funds have since petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the transaction.
Police investigations, however, alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment letters and other official government documents to portray the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council as a legitimate federal agency.
The investigation began after the Office of the Chief of Staff petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025, over the circulation of allegedly forged appointment letters bearing the office’s identity.
Investigators alleged that the forged documents contained fabricated signatures, official seals, reference numbers and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, which were allegedly used to appoint individuals into the purported council.
Police further alleged that Adeyemi operated as the Director-General of the council from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
One of the individuals reportedly linked to the alleged scheme, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, was said to have died in a hotel fire in Abuja.
Despite the allegations, Adeyemi has continued to insist that the PFIPC is a legitimate organisation and has rejected claims that it does not exist.
In an open letter addressed to President Tinubu, he called for the establishment of an independent investigative panel to examine the controversy surrounding the alleged ₦1.3 billion budgetary allocation to the council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He pledged to provide documentary evidence and cooperate fully with investigators if such a panel is constituted.
Adeyemi proposed that the panel should include representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, independent media organisations, international financial institutions, diplomatic missions, human rights organisations, the ICPC and the EFCC.
He also stated that concerns over his safety intensified following the death of Tanimola, whom he described as a central figure in the unfolding controversy.
