How police tracked, arrested alleged PFIPC DG in Osun village

How police tracked, arrested alleged PFIPC DG in Osun village

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-proclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), in Osun State, hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest over alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.

Adeyemi was apprehended during a coordinated security operation at a village in Ijesaland, where he had reportedly gone into hiding. Security sources said the operation was carried out by the Police IRT after intelligence gathered by the Department of State Services (DSS), which had tracked his movements for about five days before handing over the operation to the police.

The Osun State Police Command confirmed the arrest, stating that Adeyemi had been taken into custody and was being transported to Abuja to face prosecution.

His arrest came shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court granted an application by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki, directing security agencies to arrest and produce Adeyemi before the court after he repeatedly failed to appear for his arraignment.

The defendant is expected to answer an eight-count charge bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy, forgery, fraud and impersonation in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that the matter had been adjourned several times due to Adeyemi’s repeated absence.

“My lord, this is the fifth time this case is coming up, and all the adjournments have been at the instance of the defendant,” the police lawyer told the court while urging the judge to issue a bench warrant under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

However, Adeyemi’s lawyer, Genesis Francis, opposed the application, arguing that his client had stayed away from court because of alleged threats to his life.

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According to the defence counsel, Adeyemi had previously appeared in court but later withdrew from public view after receiving what he described as credible threats to his safety.

After considering submissions from both parties, Justice Umar held that the defendant had failed to appear before the court on four consecutive occasions and consequently ordered his arrest. The judge fixed September 30, 2026, for Adeyemi’s arraignment.

Police investigations into the matter began after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, headed by Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025, over the alleged circulation of forged presidential appointment letters purportedly issued from the office.

According to investigators, preliminary findings indicated that the forged documents contained fake signatures, official seals, reference numbers and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, and were allegedly used to recruit individuals into the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the Presidency has consistently maintained does not legally exist.

Investigators further alleged that Adeyemi presented himself as the Director-General of the council and operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, giving the impression that the organisation was an official Federal Government agency.

Police also claimed that forged government documents linked to the council were allegedly used to open several bank accounts, including one associated with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Investigators, however, said there was no evidence that public funds were paid into the accounts.

Among those expected to testify during the trial are Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), senior police officers and other witnesses connected to the investigation.

Before his arrest, Adeyemi told Channels Television that he was not evading security agencies but had deliberately withdrawn from public view because of alleged threats to his life.

“I am not hiding. I am 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,” he said.

Adeyemi also repeated his claim that he paid ₦400 million to secure his appointment as Director-General of the council, alleging that those who provided the money later petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the controversy surrounding the PFIPC emerged.

He has consistently denied allegations that the PFIPC is a non-existent organisation and has called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel comprising representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), ICPC, EFCC, civil society organisations, international partners and the media to investigate the controversy, including claims relating to an alleged ₦1.3 billion budget provision linked to the council.

Adeyemi further claimed that his decision to remain out of public view was influenced by the death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as a key intermediary in the PFIPC matter. Tanimola reportedly died in a fire incident at a hotel in Abuja, although authorities have not publicly linked the death to the ongoing investigation.

The arrest marks a significant development in the high-profile PFIPC investigation, with attention now shifting to Adeyemi’s arraignment and the commencement of trial in what has become one of the most closely watched alleged forgery and impersonation cases involving purported government appointments.

How police tracked, arrested alleged PFIPC DG in Osun village