The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, after he failed to appear in court.

Adeyemi was expected to take his plea before Justice Mohammed Umar over an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, was listed for hearing on Tuesday, but the defendant was absent when it was called.

Following his absence, the court ordered his arrest.

The charges, filed by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki on November 27, 2025, also involve two other defendants.

Prosecution witnesses expected to testify include Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede, Ituah Sylvester, officials of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Adeyemi’s absence came a day after he denied claims that he was evading security agencies, saying he withdrew from public view because he feared for his life.

He had also repeated his allegation that he paid N400 million through an intermediary to secure his appointment as Director-General of the disputed council.

The police had earlier said investigations into the alleged PFIPC scandal began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over purported forged appointment letters.

Investigators alleged that the documents contained fake signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, which were used to portray the council as a legitimate government agency.

The police also alleged that Adeyemi operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja while presenting himself as the agency’s Director-General.

Despite the allegations, Adeyemi has maintained that the PFIPC exists and has called for an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the agency and its reported N1.3bn allocation in the 2026 budget.