A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, after he failed to appear for his arraignment over alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
Justice Mohammed Umar made the order on Tuesday after granting an oral application by the prosecution when Adeyemi did not appear in court.
Adeyemi was due to take his plea on an eight-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force over his alleged operation of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, which the Presidency says does not exist. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, has been adjourned several times.
When prosecutor Wisdom Madaki applied for a bench warrant, Adeyemi’s lawyer, Genesis Francis, said his client feared for his life and had written to President Bola Tinubu. He added that Adeyemi wanted to stay alive to face trial.
Justice Umar replied, “The court will help him be alive,” before issuing the bench warrant. The case was adjourned until September 30, 2026, for arraignment.
Police filed the charges on November 27, 2025, against Adeyemi and two other suspects, Femi and Anu, who are said to be at large. They are accused of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. Investigators alleged they forged several official documents, including a presidential appointment letter, State House letterheads, approval for the establishment of the council, staff account requests, office space applications and collaboration letters.
Count Two reads, “That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ 38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi, surname unknown and Anu, surname unknown, now at large, on or about 8th day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged appointment letter purported to have been appointed by his Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President Federal Republic of Nigeria, and signed by Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2)(c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.”
Police also alleged Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the council’s Director-General.
Count Five reads, “That you, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ 38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, sometime between 2024 and 2025 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely personates as the Director General of Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 179 of the Penal Code.”
If convicted, he faces up to 21 years in prison on the forgery counts, while the impersonation charge carries a maximum three-year jail term or a fine.
His absence came a day after he denied hiding from security agencies. On Channels Television, he said, “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 also repeated his claim that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure the appointment and said lenders had petitioned the EFCC. Police said the investigation began after a petition from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President over forged appointment letters. Investigators alleged the fake documents carried forged signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, while Adeyemi operated from an office in the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja. They also linked the alleged scheme to the late Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola.
Despite the allegations, Adeyemi insists the PFIPC exists and has called for an independent investigation into the agency and its reported ₦1.3bn allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act. In an open letter to President Tinubu, he requested a multi-stakeholder investigative panel, pledged to provide documentary evidence and cooperate fully, and said he stayed out of the public eye because of alleged threats to his safety and Tanimola’s controversial death.
