The director-general of the controversial and allegedly non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has been arrested in Osun State following a coordinated security operation.
His arrest came barely hours after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his failure to appear in court.
Security sources said operatives of the Nigeria Police Force’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT), attached to the Force Headquarters, stormed Adeyemi’s hideout in a village in Ijesaland, where he was apprehended.
The operation was reportedly led by a senior officer, Moses Lohor.
Sources disclosed that Adeyemi had been under surveillance by the Department of State Services (DSS) for about five days before the police special unit took over and effected his arrest.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Adeyemi had been taken into custody and was being transported to Abuja.
Earlier on Tuesday, Justice Umar issued a warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear for his arraignment on an eight-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.
The charges against him border on forgery, fraud, and impersonation.
Although his counsel, Genesis Francis, was present in court, the defendant was absent when the matter was called.
Prosecution counsel, Wisdom Madaki, told the court that Adeyemi had repeatedly failed to attend proceedings despite several adjournments granted at his instance.
“My lord, this is the fifth time this case is coming up, and all the adjournments have been at the instance of the defendant,” Madaki said, urging the court to invoke Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
The defence opposed the application, citing alleged threats to Adeyemi’s life and arguing that he had previously appeared in court.
However, in his ruling, Justice Umar noted that since the case was filed on November 27, 2025, the defendant had appeared only once and had missed four consecutive sittings.
The court subsequently ordered security agencies to arrest and produce him for arraignment on September 30.
An interim police investigation report alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment letters and official documents to create the impression that the PFIPC was a legitimate government agency.
The probe began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025.
Investigators said the forged documents allegedly bore falsified signatures, reference numbers, official seals, and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, and were used to appoint individuals into the purported council.
Adeyemi was also accused of operating from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, while presenting himself as the council’s DG.
One of the individuals linked to the case, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, reportedly died in a fire incident at a hotel in Abuja.
In a recent interview, Adeyemi denied hiding from authorities, insisting that his absence from public view was due to threats to his life.
“I’m ready to show my face. I’m not hiding. I fear for my life because I have credible information that I am in danger,” he said.
He also maintained allegations that he paid N400 million to secure his appointment, adding that those who provided the funds had reported him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Adeyemi has further called for an independent, multi-stakeholder investigation into the controversy, including the alleged N1.3 billion budget allocation for the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Meanwhile, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to allow for what he described as an “unfettered investigation” into the allegations.
Atiku cited the precedent set by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who suspended then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, during an investigation.
He argued that all public officials should be held accountable and subjected to independent scrutiny.
The PFIPC controversy has continued to generate national debate, particularly over claims that the agency, despite lacking legal backing—allegedly appeared in the 2026 national budget and operated from government premises.
The case is expected to resume on September 30 when Adeyemi is to be formally arraigned before the court.