Court Orders Arrest of Alleged PFIPC DG Adeyemi Over Failure to Appear for Arraignment

The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment on charges of forgery, fraud and impersonation.

Justice Muhammed Umar issued the order on Tuesday following an oral application by police prosecutor, Wisdom Madaki, who urged the court to compel the defendant's appearance after what he described as repeated failures to attend court proceedings.

Adeyemi was scheduled to take his plea on an eight-count charge bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation.

Although the matter was listed as number 12 on the court's cause list, the defendant was absent when the case was called. His counsel, Genesis Francis, announced his appearance before the court but informed the judge that his client was not present.

Moving his application, the prosecution argued that the defendant had repeatedly failed to honour court proceedings despite several adjournments granted at his request.

"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 told the court.

Relying on Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the prosecutor asked the court to issue a warrant for Adeyemi's arrest to ensure his appearance for arraignment.

The application was opposed by the defence counsel, who attributed his client's absence to alleged threats to his life.

The lawyer reminded the court that Adeyemi had appeared during an earlier sitting on May 16 before the matter was adjourned, arguing that his absence was not a deliberate attempt to frustrate the proceedings.

After listening to both parties, Justice Umar ruled in favour of the prosecution.

The judge observed that although the charge was filed on November 27, 2025, proceedings did not commence until December 4, 2025, and noted that the defendant had appeared before the court only once since the case was instituted.

"Since then, he has failed to appear before this court on four consecutive dates," Justice Umar said.

The court subsequently issued a bench warrant directing security agencies to arrest Adeyemi and produce him before the court for arraignment.

Justice Umar adjourned the matter until September 30, 2026, when the defendant is expected to be brought before the court to answer the eight-count charge.