Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of a purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and fraud. Justice Mohammed Umar, presiding over the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, ordered security agencies to produce the embattled suspect before the court on September 30 for his plea to be formally taken. The dramatic turn unfolded on Tuesday when the matter was called and the defendant was nowhere to be found, despite his lawyer, Mr Genesis Francis, announcing his appearance on his behalf, prompting the prosecution to demand the full weight of the law to compel his attendance.
The prosecution, led by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki, wasted no time in applying for the arrest warrant, noting that the case had suffered multiple adjournments solely at the instance of the defendant. “My lord, this is the fifth time this case is coming up, and all the adjournments have been at the instance of the defendant,” the police lawyer lamented. Relying on Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Madaki urged the court to exercise its powers to ensure Adeyemi's presence. The defence lawyer countered by blaming his client's absence on alleged threats to his life, arguing that Adeyemi had to remain alive to face his trial. But Justice Umar was unmoved, responding pointedly that the court would “help him to be alive” before issuing the bench warrant. The judge noted that since the charge was filed on November 27, 2025, the defendant had appeared in court only once and had failed to show up on four consecutive dates, demonstrating a pattern of deliberate evasion.
The charges against Adeyemi and two other defendants, identified as Femi and Anu who are said to be at large, were filed by the Nigeria Police Force and accuse them of an elaborate scheme to create a fictitious federal government agency. In counts one through eight, the prosecution alleges that the defendants forged multiple official documents, including a purported presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024, State House letterheads, a conveyance approval for the take-off of the fictitious council, requests for approval of staff accounts, requests for office space, and letters seeking collaboration with a federal ministry. Investigators further alleged that the forged documents contained fake signatures, reference numbers, official seals, and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, all meticulously designed to create the impression that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council was a legitimate Federal Government agency. In count five, the prosecution specifically accused Adeyemi of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the council, an offence punishable under Section 179 of the Penal Code. If convicted on the forgery-related counts, Adeyemi faces up to 21 years' imprisonment without the option of a fine, while the impersonation charge carries a maximum sentence of three years or a fine.
The investigation into the alleged scandal was triggered by a formal petition from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025, over forged appointment letters allegedly circulated in the name of his office. The police subsequently arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at his office on the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, Phase III, and recovered forged documents during searches of his office and residence in Suleja, Niger State. Among the witnesses expected to testify during the trial are Gbajabiamila himself, Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede, Ituah Sylvester, two officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police. Other witnesses include individuals allegedly posted to work with Adeyemi at the non-existent agency, the owner of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, and the pastor of St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Maitama, underscoring the breadth of the investigation into this elaborate deception.
The Presidency has firmly distanced itself from Adeyemi and his activities, with presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga previously accusing him of using fake documents with forged signatures and seals to claim leadership of an office that does not exist. Police investigations established that Adeyemi forged documents, impersonated a government official, fraudulently sought diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and opened multiple bank accounts using fictitious government agencies. The statement also alleged that Adeyemi had a history of making false claims, recalling that in 2016 he presented himself as an ambassador. President Bola Tinubu has since ordered a probe into how the fake agency was allegedly set up in his office, demanding answers on the security breach that allowed such an operation to flourish within the heart of the federal bureaucracy. The case has raised serious concerns about the vulnerability of government institutions to sophisticated forgery and the need for stricter vetting processes for individuals claiming to hold sensitive appointments.
Despite the overwhelming evidence and the court's arrest order, Adeyemi has continued to insist that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council genuinely exists and that he is its legitimate head. In an interview with Channels Television on Monday, just a day before his no-show in court, he dismissed reports that he had gone into hiding to evade security agencies. “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,” he said, adding that there had been several attempts on his life. He also repeated his stunning 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 over the transaction. He has called for an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the agency and its reported ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act, pledging to provide documentary evidence and cooperate fully if such a panel is established, a move that suggests he is willing to bring down others involved in the scheme.
The case has also been linked to Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, who reportedly died in a hotel fire in Abuja under controversial circumstances. Adeyemi has described Tanimola as a key intermediary in the matter and has cited his death as one of the reasons he fears for his own safety, pointing to a possible cover-up or elimination of witnesses. Meanwhile, the police have maintained that Adeyemi's whereabouts remain unknown, and the court has now formally placed the full weight of the law behind efforts to bring him to justice. With the bench warrant issued and security agencies now mandated to arrest and produce him on September 30, the question remains whether the man at the centre of this elaborate scheme will surrender voluntarily or force authorities to launch a manhunt that could unravel further layers of this complex web of forgery, impersonation, and high-level deception. The case continues to grip the nation, raising fundamental questions about accountability, institutional integrity, and the lengths to which individuals will go to secure power and influence through fraudulent means.
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