The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-proclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following his repeated failure to appear for arraignment on criminal charges.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted the application for the warrant during proceedings on Tuesday after the defendant was absent from court for the fifth consecutive time.

Prosecution counsel, Wisdom Madaki, urged the court to invoke Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, arguing that Adeyemi had consistently failed to honour court summons despite multiple opportunities.

According to the prosecution, the defendant had offered varying reasons for his absence, including health challenges and security concerns.

Counsel to the defendant, Genesis Francis, opposed the application, maintaining that his client’s absence was due to credible threats to his life and not a deliberate attempt to evade trial.

However, Justice Umar dismissed the objection and ordered Adeyemi’s immediate arrest, directing law enforcement agencies to produce him before the court on the next adjourned date.

Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and fraud.

According to the police charge sheet, he is accused of forging a presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024, complete with a forged signature, and operating a non-existent federal agency from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.

The prosecution further alleges that Adeyemi opened 34 bank accounts through which funds were allegedly received and managed under the guise of official government activities.

The case attracted national attention after allegations emerged that the PFIPC, later disowned by the Presidency, was allocated about ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 national budget.

Adeyemi had earlier insisted that his appointment was genuine, claiming he borrowed ₦400 million to secure the position through intermediaries. He also accused the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of demanding financial kickbacks.

Gbajabiamila denied the allegations and subsequently instituted a ₦10 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi.

The Chief of Staff, along with several senior government officials, is expected to testify as prosecution witnesses in the criminal proceedings.

With the bench warrant now in effect, security agencies have been directed to apprehend Adeyemi and bring him before the court to answer the charges against him.