THE scheduled arraignment of the self-styled Director-General of the alleged “non-existent” Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, may not proceed after the defendant failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
News Point Nigeria reports that Adeyemi is expected to take his plea before Justice Mohammed Umar on an eight-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, bordering on allegations of forgery, fraud and impersonation.
However, despite the matter being listed as number 12 on the court’s cause list, Adeyemi was nowhere to be found as proceedings commenced.
There are indications that the Inspector-General of Police, who is prosecuting the case, may apply for a bench warrant to facilitate the arrest of the defendant wherever he may be found.
The charges against Adeyemi and two other defendants were filed on November 27, 2025, by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki.
Among the witnesses expected to testify in the matter are the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; and Ituah Sylvester.
Also listed as witnesses are civil servants in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, including Akimbo Shola and Adamu Balongu, as well as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Adeyemi, whose whereabouts remain unknown, had in an interview with Channels Television on Monday attributed his withdrawal from public view to alleged threats to his life.
He dismissed suggestions that he was evading security agencies or attempting to avoid investigations into the alleged PFIPC fraud.
“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.
“There have been several attempts on my life,” Adeyemi said.
He also maintained his earlier allegation that he paid ₦400 million through a proxy to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to secure his appointment as Director-General of the disputed council.
According to Adeyemi, individuals from whom he borrowed the ₦400 million used to obtain the appointment have since dragged him before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
An interim police investigation report had earlier alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment letters and other official documents, which he used to create the impression that the PFIPC was a legitimate federal government agency.
The police said investigations began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025, over the activities of persons allegedly forging official appointment letters purportedly issued from the office.
According to investigators, preliminary findings revealed that the documents contained falsified signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, and were allegedly used to appoint individuals into the non-existent council.
Police identified Adeyemi as the principal suspect, alleging that he presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and operated from an office located within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
One of the individuals allegedly linked to the controversy, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, was reported to have died in a fire incident at a hotel in Abuja.
Meanwhile, Adeyemi, who has consistently denied claims that the PFIPC does not exist, has called for the establishment of an independent, multi-stakeholder panel to investigate the controversy surrounding the alleged ₦1.3 billion budget insertion for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
In an open letter to President Tinubu, Adeyemi said he was prepared to present documentary evidence and fully cooperate with investigators once an independent panel was constituted.
He proposed that the panel should include representatives of civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, independent media organisations, international financial institutions, human rights groups, diplomatic missions, as well as officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Adeyemi further stated that his decision to remain out of public view was reinforced by what he described as the controversial circumstances surrounding the death of Tanimola, whom he referred to as a key intermediary in the matter.