Court orders arrest of alleged fake presidential agency DG Adeniyi Adeyemi, over failure to appear

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, Director-General of the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment on Tuesday.

Justice Mohammed Umar issued a bench warrant following an oral application by the prosecution counsel, Wisdom Madaki, who informed the court that Adeyemi was absent despite being scheduled to take his plea alongside two other defendants.

Adeyemi, alongside two others identified in the charge as “Femi Surname Unknown” and “Anu Surname Unknown”, is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences in a case instituted by the Nigeria Police Force.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025 and filed on November 27, 2025, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant.

When the matter was called, none of the defendants was present in court.

Counsel to Adeyemi, Genesis Francis, opposed the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant, telling the court that his client feared for his safety and had written to President Bola Tinubu regarding his concerns. According to the lawyer, Adeyemi intended to remain alive to defend himself during the trial.

Responding, Justice Umar said the court would ensure the defendant’s safety while the proceedings continued.

After hearing both parties, the judge granted the prosecution’s application, issuing a bench warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest and directing all security agencies to apprehend him wherever he is found. The case was adjourned until September 30 for arraignment.

Read also: Alleged N1.3bn budget insertion: ICPC commences investigation into fake agency

The matter had earlier been adjourned on June 16 after the defence informed the court that Adeyemi was indisposed and unable to attend proceedings.

Court documents show that the prosecution plans to call several witnesses, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), police investigators and individuals alleged to have worked with Adeyemi at the purported agency.

Other witnesses include the owner of a hotel in Abuja and a cleric, as well as individuals said to have had dealings with the alleged organisation.

The prosecution also intends to tender documentary evidence, including the police investigation report, a petition by Gbajabiamila dated October 17, 2025, and an alleged fake presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024.

Other documents listed include correspondence allegedly sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approvals relating to the opening of accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), requests submitted to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for self-accounting status, documents relating to the agency’s purported take-off, and witness statements.

According to the police, the prosecution reserves the right to call additional witnesses during the trial.

Investigators allege that Adeyemi operated the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council from the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, before his arrest.

On July 7, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the alleged fictitious agency and submit its findings within 30 days.