The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following a bench warrant issued by a Federal High Court in Abuja after he failed to appear for his arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered his arrest following an application by the prosecution over his absence from court.

Justice Umar issued the bench warrant after granting an oral application by the prosecution, led by Wisdom Madaki, when the defendant failed to appear before the court for the matter marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until September 30, 2026, for Adeyemi’s arraignment.

Opposing the application for a bench warrant, Adeyemi’s counsel, Genesis Francis, told the court that his client feared for his life and had written to President Bola Tinubu over alleged threats.

According to the lawyer, Adeyemi’s intention was to remain alive to defend himself in court.

Responding to the submission, Justice Umar said, “The court will help him be alive,” before ordering the issuance of a bench warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest.

The Personal Assistant to the Force Public Relations Officer, Aminu Koji, later confirmed Adeyemi’s arrest in a brief statement to journalists.

Koji said the suspect was arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team in Osun State.

“We have just confirmed the arrest of Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi by a team of the Intelligence Response Team in Osun State. Thank you,” Koji said.

The arrest was earlier captured in a video released by TVC News, showing Adeyemi in police custody.

The police had filed the eight-count charge against Adeyemi on November 27, 2025, accusing him and two other suspects identified simply as Femi and Anu, who are said to be at large, of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation linked to the operation of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has repeatedly said does not exist.

Before he was eventually arrested in Osun State, News Point Nigeria gathered that Adeyemi had been trailed by operatives of the Department of State Services for more than a week.

Sources said he switched off his mobile phones for about two days, making it difficult for security operatives to establish his location.

It was learnt that the DSS team later withdrew from the operation after operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team, led by CSP Moses Lohor, moved into Osun State and continued tracking Adeyemi.

Lohor previously served as Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Osun State Police Command and has been involved in several high-profile security operations and controversies.

He is regarded by many residents of Osun State as one of the security officers who contributed significantly to the peace and stability experienced in Ilesa and other parts of the state during his tenure.

Following his transfer, some members of the public expressed concerns over the security situation in the state and the possible impact of his redeployment.

In 2024, following the shooting of the Chairman of Osun State Motor Transport System, Comrade Iyanda Alowonle, the Inspector-General of Police ordered the arrest and prosecution of Lohor, who was then the Head of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Osun State, alongside members of his team for alleged attempted murder.

Lohor had shot Alowonle in the abdomen at the police station after his arrest over a domestic dispute with a neighbour.

A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, said Adeyemi was arrested by the IRT on Tuesday morning and the Osun State Police Command Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan, was informed after the operation was completed.

“The arrest of Adeyemi took place on Tuesday morning by the IRT squad, who immediately moved him to Abuja. After he was arrested, he was taken to Ibadan and from there to Abuja,” the source said.

When contacted, the Osun State Police Command spokesman, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest but declined to provide further details.

Tuesday’s proceedings represented another setback in the criminal case, which has suffered several adjournments largely because Adeyemi has yet to take his plea.

His absence from court came barely a day after he publicly alleged that his life was under threat and asked President Tinubu to guarantee his safety before surrendering himself to security agencies.

In an open letter addressed to the President on Monday, Adeyemi welcomed Tinubu’s directive ordering the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the PFIPC controversy.

However, he argued that the anti-graft agency could not conduct an independent investigation because it operates under the Executive arm of government.

He therefore urged the President to constitute an independent panel of inquiry, insisting that the controversy surrounding the alleged organisation extended beyond his personal involvement.

Adeyemi also claimed that surrendering to security agencies under the current circumstances would amount to signing his own death warrant.

He alleged that he had received “verified, highly reliable intelligence” that he would be eliminated if he appeared in an unprotected environment.

He further claimed that the reported death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the matter, reinforced his fears.

The Federal Government, through the police, filed the charges against Adeyemi on November 27, 2025.

According to the charge sheet, Adeyemi and the two other defendants allegedly forged several official documents, including a purported presidential appointment letter, State House letterheads, a conveyance approval for the establishment of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, requests for approval of staff accounts, applications for office space and letters seeking collaboration with a federal ministry.

Count Two of the charge 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 the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.”

The prosecution also accused Adeyemi of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the purported council, contrary to Section 179 of the Penal Code.

Count Five states: “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 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 imprisonment or a fine.

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Adeyemi’s lawyer, Francis, said he had neither seen nor spoken with his client for more than one month.

“Someone has to be alive before justice is heard in this case. I cannot reach my client. I haven’t seen him for over a month. It’s sad, but that is the reality of the situation.

“A bench warrant has been issued against him. The matter has been adjourned till September 30. We can only wait and see how this matter unfolds,” he said.