- Police arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi in Osun after a court issued a bench warrant against him
- He is facing charges of forgery, conspiracy and impersonation
- The case has been adjourned until September 30 for arraignment
A man who claims to be the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in Osun State, shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his arrest.
The spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, Eko Hot Blog confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating that operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from Abuja apprehended Adeyemi at his hideout in Osun.
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According to Ojelabi, the suspect is expected to be transferred to Abuja for further investigation and prosecution.
“Yes, I can confirm the arrest. Officers from the Intelligence Response Team in Abuja arrested him here in Osun,” he said.
A video circulating online showed Adeyemi wearing a light blue traditional outfit while being questioned by security operatives.
During the interrogation, officers repeatedly asked him to identify himself, but he initially avoided giving a direct response, insisting he had already stated his identity.
His arrest followed a bench warrant issued by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja after he failed to appear in court for arraignment over allegations of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
The court granted the prosecution’s request to compel his appearance after he was absent when an eight-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force was scheduled for hearing.
Prosecutors alleged that Adeyemi operated an organisation known as the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, which the Presidency has consistently maintained is not a recognised government agency.
Justice Umar rejected the argument by Adeyemi’s lawyer that his client stayed away from court because he feared for his safety, ruling that the defendant must appear to answer the charges.
The case was subsequently adjourned until September 30, 2026, for arraignment.
The arrest came barely a day after Adeyemi appeared on national television, where he denied reports that he was on the run from security agencies.
During the interview, he claimed his life was under threat and alleged there had been several attempts to kill him.
He also repeated claims that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure his appointment as Director-General of the disputed council, calling for an independent investigation into the matter.
Police investigators accused Adeyemi of forging several government documents, including an alleged presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, along with other official documents used to present the council as a legitimate federal institution.
He is also accused of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the organisation and operating from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.
If found guilty, Adeyemi could face up to 21 years in prison on the forgery charges, while the impersonation charge carries a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment or the option of a fine.
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