Police have arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi, who has been presenting himself as the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), over allegations linked to forgery, fraud and impersonation.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Okokon Iniedu, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, saying Adeyemi was apprehended by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Osun State.
“We have just confirmed the arrest of Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi by a team of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Osun State,” Iniedu said in a brief statement.
A video released by the police showed Adeyemi being questioned by operatives following his arrest.
The arrest comes after Justice Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest when he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment.
The warrant was granted following an oral application by police counsel, Wisdom Madaki, directing security agencies to arrest and produce the defendant before the court on September 30.
Adeyemi is expected to answer an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.
According to the charges, he allegedly forged an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. He is also accused of forging presidential letterheaded documents dated March 8, 2024, including requests for office space and land allocations across the 36 states, falsely presented as originating from the State House.
The Federal Government further alleges that Adeyemi falsely represented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and used forged documents to seek official recognition and office accommodation.
The controversy intensified after Adeyemi circulated photographs of himself with prominent Nigerians while claiming to head the council. He also alleged that he paid money to Gbajabiamila to secure the appointment, an allegation the Presidency strongly denied while insisting that the PFIPC does not exist.
Despite the denial, Adeyemi maintained that the council was genuine, arguing that its inclusion in the 2026 budget was evidence of its existence. He also claimed his life was under threat and vowed to defend himself in court.
Speaking earlier on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adeyemi said he was prepared to allow the judicial process to determine the matter.
Following the controversy, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations surrounding the purported agency.
