The Nigeria Police Force has arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-proclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his arrest.
Adeyemi was apprehended in Osun State by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from Abuja after he allegedly went into hiding.
Confirming the development on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Adeyemi was tracked down and arrested during the operation.
A video circulating online showed him wearing a light blue traditional outfit while being escorted by armed security personnel.
His arrest followed a bench warrant issued earlier on Tuesday by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja after he failed to appear in court for his arraignment.
Adeyemi is facing charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
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According to the police, he allegedly forged several official government documents, including a purported presidential appointment letter said to have been signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Investigators also alleged that he used the forged documents to portray the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council as a legitimate federal agency.
The police further accused Adeyemi of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the organisation and operating from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.
The Federal High Court had scheduled his arraignment, but he failed to appear, prompting the court to authorise his arrest.
The prosecution maintains that Adeyemi’s activities amounted to a deliberate attempt to mislead government institutions and members of the public.
If found guilty of the forgery charges, he could face up to 21 years in prison without the option of a fine. The impersonation charge carries a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment or a fine.