ABUJA: Security operatives have arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja over his repeated failure to appear for trial.
Adeyemi was apprehended on Tuesday at his hideout in Osun State by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered his arrest.
The arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing prosecution of Adeyemi, who is facing allegations linked to the activities of the controversial PFIPC, an organisation the Federal Government has distanced itself from.
Justice Umar issued the bench warrant after Adeyemi failed to appear before the court for his scheduled arraignment despite several adjournments.
The court ruled that the defendant had consistently ignored court proceedings, leaving no option but to compel his appearance through law enforcement.
Police sources confirmed that Adeyemi was tracked down and arrested in Osun State and is expected to be transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation and continuation of his trial.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Adeyemi’s lawyer, Genesis Francis, told the court he had been unable to persuade his client to appear.
According to the defence counsel, Adeyemi had expressed concerns about his personal safety and had earlier written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, claiming the case had generated widespread public attention and raising fears over his security.
However, the explanation failed to convince the prosecution.
Counsel to the prosecution, Wisdom Madaki, urged the court to issue a warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest under Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Madaki argued that the proceedings had suffered repeated delays because of the defendant’s refusal to honour court summons.
Granting the application, Justice Umar observed that the charges against Adeyemi were filed on November 27, 2025, while proceedings commenced on December 4, 2025.
The judge further noted that Adeyemi had appeared in court only once since the case began and had repeatedly failed to attend subsequent hearings.
Consequently, the court ordered his arrest and adjourned the matter until September 30, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings.
Adeyemi’s arrest comes amid ongoing investigations into the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation whose legitimacy has been questioned by government authorities.
The Federal Government had previously disowned the organisation, while anti-corruption agencies launched investigations into its operations and alleged activities.
With Adeyemi now in police custody, investigators are expected to intensify efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the organisation and the allegations against its leadership.
The case has continued to attract national attention due to its implications for public trust, government institutions and the fight against impersonation and alleged fraud involving public offices.
