The scheduled arraignment of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), was on Wednesday thrown into uncertainty after the defendant failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Adeyemi is expected to take his plea before Justice Mohammed Umar on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, was listed as number 12 on the court’s cause list, but the defendant was absent when proceedings commenced.
There are indications that the Inspector-General of Police, who is prosecuting the matter, may apply for a bench warrant to secure Adeyemi’s arrest wherever he may be found.
The charges against Adeyemi and two other defendants were filed on 27 November 2025 by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki.
Among those expected to testify in the case are the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.
Other prosecution witnesses include civil servants in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a deputy superintendent of police.
Adeyemi’s whereabouts remain unknown, although he said during an interview with Channels Television on Monday that he had withdrawn from public view because of alleged threats to his life.
“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. There have been several attempts on my life,” he said.
He also maintained his allegation that he paid ₦400 million through a proxy to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to secure his appointment as Director-General of the disputed council.
According to Adeyemi, the individuals from whom he borrowed the money have since dragged him before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
An interim police investigation report alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment letters and official documents to create the impression that the PFIPC was a legitimate Federal Government agency.
Police said the investigation began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on 17 October 2025 over the activities of individuals allegedly forging official appointment letters purportedly issued from the office.
Preliminary findings indicated that the forged documents contained falsified signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms and were allegedly used to appoint individuals into the non-existent council.
Investigators also alleged that Adeyemi presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
One of the individuals allegedly linked to the matter, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, reportedly died in a fire incident at a hotel in Abuja.
Despite the allegations, Adeyemi has continued to insist that the PFIPC exists and has called for an independent, multi-stakeholder panel to investigate the controversy surrounding the alleged ₦1.3 billion budget insertion for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
In an open letter to President Tinubu, he said he was prepared to provide documentary evidence and fully cooperate with investigators if an independent panel was established.
He recommended that the panel include representatives of civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, independent media organisations, international financial institutions, human rights groups, diplomatic missions, as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the EFCC.
Adeyemi said his decision to remain out of public view was further influenced by the circumstances surrounding the death of Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the matter.
