The Nigeria Police Force has arrested the self-acclaimed Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, following a warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Adeyemi was apprehended on Tuesday shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered his arrest over his failure to appear for arraignment in a case involving allegations of forgery, impersonation and related offences.
He was reportedly arrested at his hideout in Osun State and is expected to be transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
His counsel, Genesis Francis, had earlier informed the court that efforts to persuade Adeyemi to appear for his arraignment were unsuccessful, explaining that his client feared for his safety due to the intense public attention surrounding the case.
Counsel to the prosecution, Wisdom Madaki, subsequently urged the court to issue a warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest, noting that the matter had been adjourned on five previous occasions at the request of the defendant.
Justice Umar granted the application in accordance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Adeyemi, alongside two other defendants, is facing an eight-count charge instituted by the police, bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and the operation of a fictitious government agency.
According to the Federal Government, Adeyemi allegedly forged official State House documents and falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC.
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The government further accused him of using forged documents to seek office accommodation for the purported agency.
The Presidency had previously distanced itself from the PFIPC, describing it as a non-existent agency.
Investigators also alleged that Adeyemi operated the organisation from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja before the commencement of the police probe.
Prior to his arrest, Adeyemi denied claims that he had gone into hiding, insisting that his absence from public engagements was due to threats to his life.
He also maintained that he was prepared to defend himself against the allegations in court.
The case has been adjourned pending his arraignment.
