How ‘Phantom’ PFIPC DG Adeyemi was nabbed after arrest warrant

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested the ‘fake’ Director General (DG) Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.

Adeyemi, who allegedly posed as the director general of the disputed PFIPC, was arrested Tuesday in Osun state, following the issuance of a bench warrant by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adeyemi’s arrest came shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered security agencies to apprehend him for failing to appear in court to face criminal charges.

A video released by TVC News showed the suspect in police custody, confirming that he had been taken into custody in compliance with the court’s directive.

The arrest followed an oral application by counsel to the Nigeria Police Force, Wisdom Madaki, who informed the court that the defendant had repeatedly failed to appear for his arraignment despite several adjournments granted at his request.

Justice Umar subsequently granted the application and directed law enforcement agencies to arrest Adeyemi and produce him before the court to answer to the charges against him.

Adeyemi is facing allegations bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation over claims that he falsely presented himself as the DG of the PFIPC, an agency investigators say does not exist.

Further details surrounding his arrest and the ongoing prosecution are expected to emerge as the case progresses.

…Warrant of arrest

 The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court Tuesday issued the bench warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest for failing to appear for his arraignment.

He was billed to be arraigned over alleged conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation  levelled against him before Justice Umar but didn’t turn up.

The order for his arrest followed the granting of an oral application, which was moved by the prosecution following the defendant’s absence when the matter was called.

In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, which was previously adjourned, he was expected to take his plea on an eight-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force over his alleged operation of the purported PFIPC.

The presidency has since cleared the air, saying such an organisation does not exist.

At the proceedings, Adeyemi’s counsel, Genesis Francis, while justifying his absence, told the court that his client feared for his life and had written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to that effect.

The defendant, according to the lawyer, intended to remain alive to stand trial.

But despite his arguments, the prosecution, led by Madaki, went ahead and applied for a bench warrant against him.

In a short ruling, Justice Umar held: “The court will help him be alive.”

He then ordered that a bench warrant be issued for Adeyemi’s arrest.

The judge has adjourned the case until September 30, 2026, for arraignment.

The Nigerian Police had through the federal government, filed the charges against the defendant on November 27, 2025, where he was accused alongside two other suspects; Femi and Anu, now at large, of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

 …The charges

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

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.”

Adeyemi was alleged to have falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the purported council, contrary to Section 179 of the Penal Code.

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.”