The arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), followed days of coordinated intelligence gathering involving operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT), security and court sources have revealed.
Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State on Tuesday after the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his failure to appear for arraignment on an eight-count criminal charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
The arrest marked the latest development in a case that has drawn attention since the Presidency publicly disowned the PFIPC, insisting that no such federal agency exists and warning Nigerians against dealing with individuals claiming to represent it.
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court issued the warrant after Adeyemi failed to appear in court for his scheduled arraignment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.
During proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Wisdom Madaki, informed the court that the defendant was absent despite being aware of the hearing and urged the court to compel his appearance by issuing a bench warrant.
Adeyemi’s lawyer, Genesis Francis, opposed the application, arguing that his client had stayed away because he feared for his safety. According to the defence, Adeyemi had written to President Bola Tinubu, alleging threats to his life and expressing concerns about his security.
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Francis told the court that his client wanted to remain alive in order to defend himself against the charges.
Responding, Justice Umar remarked, “The court will help him be alive,” before granting the prosecution’s application and directing law enforcement agencies to arrest the defendant.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until September 30, 2026, for arraignment.
Multi-Agency Intelligence Operation
Security sources familiar with the operation disclosed that Adeyemi had been under surveillance by DSS operatives for more than one week before his eventual arrest.
According to the sources, investigators encountered initial difficulties after Adeyemi reportedly switched off his mobile phones for approximately two days, temporarily disrupting efforts to determine his location.
The sources said DSS operatives monitored developments before the operation transitioned to the Nigeria Police Force’s Intelligence Response Team, which deployed personnel to Osun State to continue the search.
The operation was reportedly coordinated by CSP Moses Lohor, a former Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Osun State Police Command, who currently serves with the IRT.
A security source, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the operation, said Adeyemi was arrested on Tuesday morning before being moved out of Osun State.
“The arrest took place on Tuesday morning by the IRT squad, who immediately moved him to Abuja,” the source said.
“He was first taken to Ibadan before continuing the journey to Abuja.”
The source further disclosed that the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, was informed after the operation had been concluded.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed Adeyemi’s arrest shortly after the operation.
The Personal Assistant to the Force Public Relations Officer, Aminu Koji, said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team in Osun State.
“We have just confirmed the arrest of Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi by a team of the Intelligence Response Team in Osun State,” Koji said in a brief statement.
The Osun State Police Command also confirmed the arrest, although its spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, declined to provide operational details.
Television footage later aired by TVC News showed Adeyemi in police custody following the arrest.
The criminal proceedings stem from an eight-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force on November 27, 2025, against Adeyemi and two other suspects identified as Femi and Anu, who remain at large.
The defendants are accused of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation in connection with the operations of the PFIPC.
Prosecutors allege that forged appointment letters and official government documents were produced and used to portray the organisation as a legitimate federal institution and to present Adeyemi as its Director-General.
The charges have not yet been tested in court, and Adeyemi has not entered a plea.
Presidency Maintains PFIPC Is Non-Existent
The controversy surrounding the PFIPC began after the Presidency publicly distanced itself from the organisation, maintaining that no such council was created by the Federal Government.
Government officials have repeatedly warned members of the public that the council has no legal status within the federal administrative structure and advised Nigerians to disregard any documents or appointments purportedly issued in its name.
Investigators allege that forged official documents were used to create the impression that the organisation was a recognised government agency.
Before his arrest, Adeyemi consistently rejected allegations of forgery and impersonation, insisting that the council was lawfully established and that his appointment was legitimate.
His legal team has also argued that he had security concerns which informed his decision not to appear in court on the scheduled arraignment date.
The prosecution, however, maintains that the allegations are supported by evidence and has vowed to proceed with the trial.
With Adeyemi now in police custody, attention is expected to shift to his formal arraignment before the Federal High Court, where he will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations.