Nigerian court issues warrant in alleged N400m fake agency scam
A Nigerian court has issued an arrest warrant for the head of an alleged fake government agency, exposing institutional vulnerabilities that allowed the purported body to seek state funds and diplomatic privileges.
The Federal High Court in Abuja issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday for Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). Justice Mohammed Umar ordered all security agencies to detain Adeyemi after police counsel Wisdom Madaki noted his failure to appear for arraignment on forgery and impersonation charges. The matter was adjourned until September 30.
The police case centres on claims that Adeyemi operated a sophisticated scheme from within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja. He is accused of using forged presidential appointment letters to secure official recognition, facilitate visas, and open bank accounts for the non-existent agency. During a recent press briefing, Adeyemi alleged that N400 million was paid through intermediaries to secure his appointment, with an additional N200 million allegedly requested.
At Tuesday's proceedings, Adeyemi's lawyer, Genesis Francis, told the court his client feared for his life and had written a letter to President Bola Tinubu. “The court will help him stay alive,” Justice Umar replied before granting the warrant application. The prosecution has lined up a broad list of witnesses for the trial, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and hotel operators.
The scandal raises pressing questions about governance and verification processes within Nigeria's public sector, a key metric for foreign investors assessing institutional risk. Adeyemi has publicly challenged the presidency's denial of the PFIPC's existence, pointing out that both it and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council appear in the 2026 Appropriation Act. The inclusion of a purportedly non-existent body in the national budget points to potential weaknesses in fiscal oversight and legislative review.
President Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate not only Adeyemi’s activities but also how his operation secured official legitimacy. The anti-graft probe will trace associated funds, examine the alleged use of forged documents for diplomatic support, and assess the roles of any financial institutions or public officials involved. The Senate has paused its own inquiry into the budget anomaly to await the ICPC's findings, which are expected to recommend measures to close exploited institutional loopholes.
