The Nigeria Police Force has arrested Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled director-general of the allegedly fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest over allegations of forgery, fraud and impersonation.
Adeyemi was arrested on Tuesday by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Osun State, police sources confirmed. He was subsequently transferred to Abuja, where he would be held until his arraignment before the Federal High Court on 30 September.
The public relations officer of the Force, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, confirmed the development, saying Adeyemi was arrested in compliance with the court’s directive.
A video that circulated shortly after the operation showed Adeyemi dressed in a light blue traditional outfit and surrounded by armed security operatives.
When asked to identify himself, he first refused to give a straight answer. I have said, sir,” he said to the officers. The operatives kept asking him what his name was. “What’s your name? One officer demanded, “Say it for us, will you?” “I have said it many times,” Adeyemi said.
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the arrest of Adeyemi after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment on an eight-count charge of forgery, fraud and impersonation, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.
The arrest warrant was granted following an oral application by the prosecution counsel, Mr Wisdom Madaki, that the defendant had repeatedly frustrated the commencement of his trial by continuously absconding from court.
“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.
The prosecution urged the court to issue a warrant of arrest to compel Adeyemi’s attendance in accordance with Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
The defendant did not appear, but his lawyer Mr Genesis Francis announced appearance on the defendant’s behalf and opposed the application.
Francis said Adeyemi’s absence was borne out of security concerns rather than an attempt to evade justice.
His client had appeared in court on May 16, but the matter was adjourned, he said. However, subsequent developments had put him at risk of serious threats, he said.
Since then this case has become of public importance and there have been many threats to his life,” the defence counsel said.
“The defendant fears for his life. He must be alive to stand trial. “They have been looking for him without even an order of court,” argued the lawyer.
But, justice Umar held that the court record showed that the defendant was consistently absent.
The judge observed that Adeyemi had appeared before the court only once considering that the charge was filed on 27 November 2025 and the proceedings started on 4 December 2025.
He has since failed to appear in this court on four consecutive dates,” the judge ruled before issuing a warrant for his arrest and production in court by security agencies on 30 September for arraignment.
Adeyemi was taken to Abuja after his arrest in Osun State and is expected to remain in police custody ahead of his court date on 30 September.
The prosecution has also lined up several prominent witnesses who are expected to testify during the trial.
They include the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede, Ituah Sylvester, officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police involved in the investigation.
Police investigations said Adeyemi hatched an elaborate scheme involving forged appointment letters and official government documents to make it look like the PFIPC was a legitimate federal agency.
The investigation, according to the investigators, commenced following a petition by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President to the Inspector-General of Police on 17 October 2025, on the alleged forged appointment letters purportedly issued by the office.
The petition alleged that the forged documents contained false signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms and that the documents were used to appoint persons to the purported Council.
The investigators further alleged that Adeyemi masqueraded as the director-general of the PFIPC and operated from an office in the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
Prior to his arrest, Adeyemi had given an interview, denying evading security agencies, insisting that he only went into hiding over alleged threats to his life.
“I am ready to show my face,” he said in an interview on Channels TV. I’m not hiding. I fear my life only because I have good evidence that my life is in danger.” “There have been multiple attempts on my life.
Adeyemi also cited the death of one of his associates, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, who allegedly died in a hotel fire in Abuja, as his reason to stay away from the limelight.
He said Tanimola was a key intermediary in the PFIPC controversy and the circumstances surrounding his death had further heightened concerns for his own safety.
He also repeated his controversial claim that he paid N400 million through a proxy to Gbajabiamila to secure his appointment as director-general of the PFIPC.
He said those who financed the alleged payment have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to get their money back.
Adeyemi has always denied that the PFIPC is a fictitious organisation.
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, he called for the setting up of an independent multi-stakeholder investigation panel into the issues surrounding the council and the alleged plan to allocate N1.3 billion to it in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He said he would produce documentary evidence and co-operate with investigators if such a panel was fully constituted.
Adeyemi said the panel should include representatives of civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), independent media organisations, international financial institutions, human rights organisations, diplomatic missions, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has ordered ICPC to investigate all claims and counterclaims over the alleged fake agency.