Abuja – Fresh details have emerged on how security operatives arrested Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following weeks of investigation into allegations of forgery, impersonation and the operation of a non-existent federal agency.
The arrest followed an extensive probe launched after the Presidency reportedly disowned the PFIPC, describing it as an agency unknown to the Federal Government. Investigators alleged that forged documents bearing the signatures of senior government officials were used to give the purported council an appearance of legitimacy.
According to reports, Adeyemi allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the council, operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, interacted with government institutions and foreign diplomats, and issued official correspondence under the name of the purported agency.
The matter took a legal turn after the suspect allegedly failed to appear before the Federal High Court to answer charges filed against him. Consequently, Justice Mohammed Umar issued a warrant for his arrest, paving the way for security operatives to track and apprehend him.
Authorities are expected to arraign the suspect before the Federal High Court on charges bordering on forgery, impersonation and other related offences.
The investigation also sparked controversy after police operatives reportedly raided the suspect’s family residence in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, and arrested his father when he allegedly could not provide information on his son’s whereabouts. The development drew criticism from human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who argued that relatives should not be arrested over allegations against another person.
Meanwhile, Adeyemi has denied any wrongdoing. He maintains that he was neither on the run nor attempting to evade law enforcement, and has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an independent investigation into the controversy surrounding the PFIPC.
As legal proceedings commence, the case is expected to test the allegations surrounding the alleged fake government agency and determine whether the prosecution can substantiate its claims in court.
The suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.