Federal Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Self-Proclaimed Government Official
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the secretary-general of the nonexistent Presidential Promotion of Foreign Intervention Council (PFIPC), after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment.
The order was issued by Justice Mohamed Umar on Tuesday, following a motion from prosecuting attorney Madaki Wisdom. Wisdom informed the court that Adeyemi was expected to present his defense but was notably absent during the proceedings.
Adeyemi’s defense counsel requested the court to excuse his absence, citing concerns for Adeyemi’s safety and mentioning that he had written to President Bola Tinubu regarding the matter. However, Justice Umar dismissed this explanation and proceeded with the arrest warrant, stating, “The court will help him survive.”
Adeyemi faces eight charges including conspiracy, falsification of official documents, and impersonation, alongside two co-defendants, identified only as Femi and Anu, who have yet to be apprehended.
Among the witnesses listed for the prosecution is the Presidential Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, along with other officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), including Mr. Akimbo Shola and Mr. Adam Barong, as well as Deputy Superintendent of Police representatives.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 30, providing a timeline for the ongoing legal proceedings. This case arises from allegations that Adeyemi utilized forged presidential appointment documents to impersonate the head of a fabricated federal agency.
The presidential palace had previously announced Adeyemi’s arraignment for July 27, following a police investigation that commenced in October 2025. The case was eventually addressed in court this week. In a statement issued on July 1, Bayo Onanuga, Special Assistant to the President on Intelligence and Strategy, revealed that the charges stemmed from a petition by Gbajabiamila, who alerted security agencies about the activities of an individual suspected of creating a fraudulent appointment letter purportedly issued from his office.
Onanuga highlighted that the Chief of Staff had requested investigations from both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force into individuals suspected of using forged presidential documents. Following this request, police arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at his office within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. Investigators recovered numerous documents and other related materials during searches at both Adeyemi’s office and residence.
According to Onanuga, Adeyemi claimed he received assistance from Dolapo Babatunde Tanimora in acquiring the fraudulent appointment letter. However, police later discovered that Tanimora had died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Abuja just days before Adeyemi’s arrest. Tanimora’s body was identified by police at a local mortuary.
Investigators confirmed that the Presidential Council to Advance Foreign Intervention is not a legitimate government agency, asserting that Adeyemi forged appointment letters and several official documents to bolster his fabricated claims. Furthermore, inquiries revealed that he operated 34 bank accounts, including nine linked to fictitious government agencies, which raised significant concerns regarding fraudulent activities involving the Accountant General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The police report indicated that Adeyemi used forged documents to improperly open a CBN account, suggesting no government funds were ever transferred into it. Onanuga summarized the findings, stating that Adeyemi’s actions constituted criminal forgery, impersonation, and fraudulent acquisition, undermining the integrity of the Chief of Staff’s office and the broader reputation of the presidency.
Additionally, it was revealed that Adeyemi had been released on police administrative bail, after which he re-emerged publicly, asserting that Gbajabiamila had appointed him as the director-general of the agency—a claim that contradicted earlier statements made during his interrogation and ultimately led to the revocation of his immunity.
