The controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) took a fresh turn on Tuesday as the Nigeria Police Force arrested Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-proclaimed Director-General of the organisation, following a court-issued bench warrant.
Adeyemi was apprehended by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Osun State and has since been moved to Abuja, where he is expected to remain in custody ahead of his arraignment before the Federal High Court on September 30.
The arrest came just hours after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered security agencies to produce Adeyemi before the court over an eight-count charge bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation.
Confirming the arrest, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, said the police acted in compliance with the court’s directive.
A video that surfaced shortly after the operation showed Adeyemi surrounded by armed officers. When asked to identify himself, he repeatedly declined to state his name directly, saying:
“I have mentioned it, sir.”
When officers insisted he identify himself, he replied:
“I have said it several times.”
Court Cites Repeated Absence
During Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Wisdom Madaki argued that Adeyemi had consistently failed to appear in court despite several 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 told the court.
Although Adeyemi’s lawyer, Genesis Francis, opposed the application, claiming his client stayed away because of threats to his life, the court ruled that the defendant had repeatedly failed to honour court appearances.
Justice Umar noted that Adeyemi had appeared only once since the case was filed in November 2025, before issuing the bench warrant.
Forgery Allegations
Police investigators allege that Adeyemi masterminded an elaborate scheme involving forged appointment letters, fake government documents and official seals to present the PFIPC as a legitimate federal agency.
According to investigators, the probe began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over appointment letters allegedly bearing forged signatures, reference numbers and the Nigerian Coat of Arms.
Authorities also alleged that Adeyemi operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja, while presenting himself as the Director-General of the council.
Adeyemi Insists He Is Innocent
Before his arrest, Adeyemi denied hiding from security agencies, insisting he only stayed away because he feared for his safety.
Speaking during a television interview, he said:
“I am ready to show my face. I am not hiding. I am only fearing for my life because I have it on good authority that my life is in danger.”
He also maintained his claim that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure the appointment, alleging that those who provided the money have already petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover it.
Adeyemi further insisted that the PFIPC is a legitimate organisation and called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the controversy surrounding the agency and its reported ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has already directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate all claims and counterclaims relating to the alleged agency.
Prominent witnesses, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and several government officials, are expected to testify when the trial begins.
