By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested the self-acclaimed Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, following a warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Watch here
Adeyemi was arrested on Tuesday, shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered his arrest over his failure to appear for arraignment in a case bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences. He was reportedly apprehended at his hideout in Osun State and is expected to be taken to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The arrest came after Adeyemi’s counsel, Genesis Francis, informed the court that he could not persuade his client to appear, saying Adeyemi feared for his safety because the case had attracted widespread public attention.
Prosecuting counsel, Wisdom Madaki, urged the court to issue a warrant of arrest, arguing that the matter had been adjourned five times at the instance of the defendant. Justice Umar subsequently granted the application in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Adeyemi and two others are facing an eight-count charge filed by the police, including allegations of forgery, impersonation and operating a fictitious government agency. The Federal Government accused him of forging State House documents, falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and using forged documents to request office space for the purported agency.
The Presidency had earlier disowned the PFIPC, describing it as a non-existent agency. Police investigations also alleged that Adeyemi operated the fictitious organisation from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja before the investigation commenced.
Before his arrest, Adeyemi had denied going into hiding, insisting that he stayed away from public appearances because of alleged threats to his life. He also maintained that he was willing to defend himself in court.