ABUJA, Nigeria: The Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, after he failed to appear for arraignment on forgery and fraud charges.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the bench warrant when the defendant did not attend the scheduled plea hearing. Okay News reports that police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki filed the eight-count charge of forgery, fraud, and impersonation on November 27, 2025.
Adeyemi is accused of impersonating the Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council. The police investigation began after Nigeria’s Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025, regarding forged appointment letters.
Investigators stated the forged documents contained fake signatures and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, which Adeyemi used to operate an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja. The prosecution listed Gbajabiamila among the witnesses expected to testify in the trial.
The absence in court occurred one day after Adeyemi told Channels Television that he withdrew from public view due to security concerns.
“I’m ready to show my face. I’m not hiding. I’m only fearing for my life because I have it on good authority that my life is in danger,” Adeyemi said. “There have been several attempts on my life.”
Adeyemi claimed he paid ₦400 million ($250,000) through an intermediary to secure the appointment. The police investigation linked the alleged scheme to Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, who died in a hotel fire in Abuja.
The defendant previously called for an independent investigation into the agency, citing a reported ₦1.3 billion ($812,500) allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act. Adeyemi submitted an open letter to Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, requesting a multi-stakeholder investigative panel.
