Alleged Fake PFIPC DG Adeyemi Arraigned, Remanded in Kuje Prison

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.

Adeyemi was arraigned on an eight-count charge before Justice Mohammed Umar. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following the arraignment, the court ordered that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until October 12, when the substantive hearing of the case is expected to commence.

Adeyemi has been in detention since July 14, following his arrest on the strength of a bench warrant issued by the court.

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has taken over the prosecution of the case from the police. The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, is leading the prosecution.

The prosecution requested an accelerated hearing of the case, while Adeyemi's lawyer, Genesis Francis, urged the court to consider his client's bail application.

Francis told the court that Adeyemi was suffering from a contagious illness and had a medical appointment scheduled for Friday. However, the prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the government had adequate facilities to attend to his medical needs.

Justice Umar subsequently ruled that the bail application would be heard on the next adjourned date.

Several witnesses are expected to testify in the case, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Paul Emmanuel; Jeremiah Imoukhede; Ituah Sylvester; and officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

A police investigation reportedly alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment letters and other official documents to create the impression that the PFIPC was a legitimate Federal Government agency.

The investigation was reportedly launched after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President petitioned the Inspector-General of Police in October 2025 over alleged forgery of official appointment letters.

According to the police, the documents allegedly contained falsified signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms and were used to appoint individuals to positions within the disputed council.

Adeyemi has denied that the PFIPC is a non-existent organisation. He has also called for an independent multi-stakeholder panel to investigate the controversy surrounding an alleged N1.3 billion budgetary provision for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

Before his arrest, Adeyemi told Channels Television that he had gone into hiding because of alleged threats to his life. He also alleged that he paid N400 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.

Gbajabiamila has been mentioned in the case as a potential prosecution witness.

Adeyemi has maintained his innocence and said he was willing to provide documentary evidence and cooperate with investigators if an independent panel was established to examine the allegations surrounding the PFIPC.

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