Court Orders Arrest of Alleged PFIPC Director-General After Failure to Appear for Arraignment

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment over allegations bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation.

The bench warrant was issued by the court after prosecutors informed the judge that the defendant had again failed to honour the court’s summons despite the matter being fixed for plea.

Court Issues Bench Warrant

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court granted an oral application made by police counsel, Wisdom Madaki, directing law enforcement authorities to arrest Adeyemi and produce him before the court.

Although Adeyemi’s legal representative, Genesis Francis, announced his appearance in court, the defendant himself was absent when the case was called for hearing.

Court records show that the criminal case, filed as FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, was listed for arraignment on an eight-count charge involving allegations of forgery, fraud and impersonation.

Because criminal defendants are generally expected to be physically present for arraignment unless the law provides otherwise, the court proceeded to issue a bench warrant after hearing the prosecution’s application.

Allegations Against Adeyemi

Investigators accuse Adeyemi of presenting himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation authorities have described as non-existent.

The prosecution is also pursuing charges relating to alleged certificate forgery and impersonation. Adeyemi has not entered a plea because his arraignment has not taken place.

As of the latest court proceedings, the allegations remain before the court and have not been proven. Under Nigerian law, every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Timeline of Events

• Authorities filed an eight-count criminal charge against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
• The case was scheduled before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
• Adeyemi reportedly failed to appear for an earlier arraignment involving allegations of certificate forgery.
• During the latest court session, he again did not appear despite his lawyer being present.
• Following the prosecution’s application, Justice Mohammed Umar issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Why the Case Matters

The case highlights ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to crack down on alleged impersonation of government institutions and officials.

Cases involving individuals who allegedly claim affiliation with non-existent government agencies can undermine public confidence, expose investors and members of the public to potential fraud, and create confusion about legitimate government programmes.

Legal experts note that bench warrants are commonly issued when a defendant fails to appear in court without satisfactory justification, allowing law enforcement agencies to bring the individual before the court so criminal proceedings can continue.

What Happens Next?

The next stage of the case is expected to focus on the execution of the bench warrant.

If Adeyemi is arrested and produced before the Federal High Court, he is expected to be formally arraigned on the charges, after which the prosecution and defence will begin the substantive legal process. The court will then determine future hearing dates based on the progress of the proceedings.

The outcome of the criminal charges will ultimately depend on the evidence presented before the court.