Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the controversial self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) Adeniyi Adeyemi after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment.
Justice Umar issued the arrest order following an oral application made by the police lawyer, Wisdom Madaki.
Adeyemi was billed to take his plea on an eight-count charge relating to forgery, fraud, and impersonation.
However, although the matter was listed as No. 12 on the court’s cause list, the defendant failed to appear for his arraignment, even though a lawyer, Genesis Francis, announced his appearance on his behalf.
Shortly after the case was called, the prosecution counsel noted that the defendant had repeatedly failed to appear for his trial.
“My lord, this is the fifth time this case is coming up, and all the adjournments have been at the instance of the defendant,” the police lawyer lamented.
Consequently, relying on Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.
The application was immediately opposed by the defence lawyer, who blamed his client’s absence in court on alleged threats to his life.
The defence lawyer drew the court’s attention to the fact that his client was present for his arraignment on May 16, a date to which he said the case was later adjourned.
After listening to both lawyers, Justice Umar said he was minded to accede to the application for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the defendant.
The court noted that whereas the case was filed on November 27, 2025, proceedings did not commence until December 4, 2025.
Justice Umar noted that since the charge was filed, the defendant had appeared before the court only once.
“Since then, he has failed to appear before this court on four consecutive dates,” Justice Umar added.
Justice Mohammed Umar therefore issued a warrant mandating security agencies to arrest and produce the defendant before the court on September 30 for arraignment.
Adeyemi is facing an 8-count charge of felony to wit he forged an appointment letter purported to have been issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila.
He is also being accused of forging Presidential Letter Headed Papers on 8th March, 2024.
In the charge, Adeyemi is also accused of forging a request for collaboration with the Ministry of the Area of Land requisition and offices across the 36 states of the Federation purported to have been issued from the State House Abuja Nigeria.
The Federal Government is alleging that he falsely personates as the Director General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council as well as forging a request for office space, purported to be from the State House.
COUNT ONE
That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew “M’ 38 years of 2″d Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, on or about 8 day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit forgery and thereby committed an offence punishable under section I (2) (c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17 Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
COUNT TWO
That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew M’38 years of 2ºd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, on or about 8” day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged appointment letter purported to have been appointed by his Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President Federal Republic of Nigeria and signed by Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2) (c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17 Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
COUNT THREE
That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, on or about 8t day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged Presidential Letter Headed Papers and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2) (c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17 Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
COUNT FOUR
That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ 38 years of 2id Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown nown at large, on or about 8 day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged request for collaboration with the Ministry of the Area of Land requisition and offices across the 36 state of the Federation purported to have been issued from state House Abuja Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2) (c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17 Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
COUNT FIVE
That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ 38 years of 2d Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, sometime between 2024 and 2025 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely personates as the Director General of Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 179 of the Penal Code.
COUNT SIX
That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, on or about 8 day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged request for office space, purported to be from State House Abuja, Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2) (c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17 Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
COUNT SEVEN
That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown nown at large, on or about gday of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged request for approval of Staff Accounts status purported to have been issued from state House Abuja Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2) (c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17 Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
COUNT EIGHT
That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew M’ 38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, on or about 8t’ day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged conveyance approval Re-Take off Presidential Economic Advisory Council / Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, purported to emanates from State House Abuja and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(2) (c) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17 Law of the Federation of Nigeria