•Adeniyi Adeyemi
Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the controversial self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) Adeniyi Adeyemi after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment.
Justice Umar issued the arrest order following an oral application made by the police lawyer, Wisdom Madaki, reports Channels TV.
Adeyemi was billed to take his plea on an eight-count charge relating to forgery, fraud, and impersonation.
However, although the matter was listed as No. 12 on the court’s cause list, the defendant failed to appear for his arraignment, even though a lawyer, Genesis Francis, announced his appearance on his behalf.
Shortly after the case was called, the prosecution counsel noted that the defendant had repeatedly failed to appear for his trial.
“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 lamented.
Consequently, relying on Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.
The application was immediately opposed by the defence lawyer, who blamed his client’s absence in court on alleged threats to his life.
The defence lawyer drew the court’s attention to the fact that his client was present for his arraignment on May 16, a date to which he said the case was later adjourned.
After listening to both lawyers, Justice Umar said he was minded to accede to the application for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the defendant.
The court noted that whereas the case was filed on November 27, 2025, proceedings did not commence until December 4, 2025.
Justice Umar noted that since the charge was filed, the defendant had appeared before the court only once.
“Since then, he has failed to appear before this court on four consecutive dates,” Justice Umar added.
Justice Mohammed Umar therefore issued a warrant mandating security agencies to arrest and produce the defendant before the court on September 30 for arraignment.
