Police arrest controversial presidential council boss in Osun

The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday apprehended Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the unrecognized Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, following a bench warrant issued by an Abuja Federal High Court after his failure to appear for arraignment. Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge which includes conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.

Justice Mohammed Umar directed law enforcement to arrest the defendant after approving an oral request from the prosecution counsel, Wisdom Madaki, following Adeyemi's absence during the calling of the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025. Adeyemi's defense counsel, Genesis Francis, had opposed the request, informing the court that his client was hiding because he feared for his life and had even written to President Bola Tinubu regarding the alleged threats. The lawyer explained that the defendant wanted to stay alive to present his defense. In response, Justice Umar remarked, "The court will help him be alive," before directing that the bench warrant be issued. The trial judge subsequently adjourned the case to September 30, 2026, for the defendant to take his plea.

The personal assistant to the Force Public Relations Officer, Aminu Koji, confirmed the arrest to journalists in a brief message. Koji stated, "We have just confirmed the arrest of Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi by a team of the Intelligence Response Team in Osun State. Thank you," A video broadcast by TVC News also depicted the suspect in police custody following his arrest by the Intelligence Response Team.

The prosecution had filed the charges on November 27, 2025, accusing Adeyemi along with two fleeing accomplices, identified as Femi and Anu, of running the fraudulent presidential council, a body the presidency has disowned. Prior to his capture in Osun State, security sources revealed that a team from the Department of State Services had tracked Adeyemi for over a week. He reportedly went off the radar by switching off his mobile phones for about forty-eight hours. The security team from the secret police eventually stepped back, enabling a unit from the police Intelligence Response Team, led by Chief Superintendent of Police Moses Lohor, to take over the tracking until his arrest.

CSP Lohor is a well-known figure in Osun State, having previously served as the Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad. Many residents credited him with maintaining security in Ilesa and neighboring areas, and his redeployment had raised some safety concerns among the public. However, his career has also been marred by controversy. In 2024, the Inspector General of Police ordered the arrest and trial of Lohor and his team for attempted murder. This followed an incident where Lohor shot the Chairman of the Osun State Motor Transport System, Comrade Iyanda Alowonle, in the abdomen inside the police station after Alowonle was arrested over a disagreement with a neighbor.

An anonymous security source stated that the arrest occurred on Tuesday morning, and the Osun State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan, was notified after the operation was concluded. The source stated, "The arrest (of Adeyemi) took place on Tuesday morning by the IRT squad, who immediately moved him to Abuja. After he was arrested, he was taken to Ibadan and from there to Abuja," The Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest but declined to provide additional details.

The arrest came shortly after Adeyemi issued an open letter on Monday, expressing fear for his life and urging President Tinubu to guarantee his safety. While he welcomed the president's directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to probe the council scandal, Adeyemi argued that the anti-graft agency was not fully independent since it falls under the executive branch. He called for an independent panel of inquiry and claimed that submitting himself to security agencies without protection would be like signing his own death warrant, pointing to the death of a key intermediary, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, as the reason for his extreme fear.

The charges filed by the Federal Government on November 27, 2025, allege that Adeyemi and his fleeing associates forged key documents, including a presidential appointment letter, State House letterhead papers, and requests for staff accounts and office spaces. Count Two of the charge sheet states, "That you Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ 38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi, surname unknown and Anu, surname unknown, now at large, on or about 8th day of March, 2024 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged appointment letter purported to have been appointed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President Federal Republic of Nigeria, and signed by Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria."

The prosecution also alleged that the suspect falsely presented himself as the head of the fictitious council, in violation of Section 179 of the Penal Code. Count Five of the charges states, "That you, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew ‘M’ 38 years of 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Abuja, Femi surname unknown and Anu surname unknown now at large, sometime between 2024 and 2025 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely personates as the Director General of Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 179 of the Penal Code." A conviction on the forgery charges could lead to 21 years in prison without a fine option, while the impersonation charge carries up to three years in prison or a fine. Adeyemi's lawyer, Genesis Francis, told journalists that he had not been in communication with his client, stating, "Someone has to be alive before justice is heard in this case. I cannot reach my client. I haven’t seen him for over a month. It’s sad, but that is the reality of the situation. A bench warrant has been issued against him. The matter has been adjourned till September 30. We can only wait and see how this matter unfolds,"

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), noted that the presidential order for the ICPC to investigate the council could expand the scope of the probe beyond the currently charged individuals. When questioned on whether the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, should be interrogated or arrested due to his name being linked to the case, Osigwe said the decision lies with the investigators. Osigwe stated, "I’m not the police," and added, "The President has ordered that a special investigation be carried out by the ICPC." He further remarked, "If there are persons of interest who were invited for the investigation and if that special investigation takes place, then it means they may likely invite others whose names have been mentioned,"

Osigwe warned against premature assumptions, stating, "The law does not deal with speculation. As of today, he is the only person charged in court," He supported the actions of the Federal High Court in issuing the warrant, noting, "If he fails to attend court, the court will be right to make an order for his arrest or revoke his bail if he is already on bail," He suggested that the new directive from the president indicated that the initial investigation might have been incomplete, adding, "I think you should be interested in the effect of the President’s order on these 10 men charged. Does it not show that the President is not quite satisfied that a comprehensive investigation into the matter has been carried out?"

Sharing a similar view, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Sam Erugo, stated that the police should normally question the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, given the heavy allegations made against him by Adeyemi, but admitted that such a move remains highly unlikely in the current political atmosphere. Erugo said, "The right thing should be for the police to invite Gbajabiamila and interrogate him. Let him write statements on those things. That should be the right thing," He acknowledged the constraints of political influence, adding, "He’s not a governor, so he does not enjoy constitutional immunity, but he has all the powers. Do you know what it means to be Chief of Staff to the President," He noted, "As long as he’s there, it’s very difficult for the police. If the police should invite him now they’ll be looking for trouble," Erugo added, "If the President decides to suspend him and tell him to go and face investigation, but you know he will not do that,"

The senior advocate criticized the decision of the suspect to run away from his trial, describing it as an unwise legal approach. Erugo said, "I don’t know why the man is running. If he sought advice from good lawyers, they should tell him to go to trial," He advised Adeyemi to use the court's powers to summon necessary witnesses, including Gbajabiamila, to defend himself rather than trying to hide. Erugo concluded, "Running away from trial is not the best. Running will not solve his problem,"