How Adeniyi Adeyemi was arrested

THE Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, following an order of arrest issued by a Federal High Court in Abuja, after he failed to appear for his arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Adeyemi’s arrest after granting an oral application by the prosecution, led by Wisdom Madaki, following the defendant’s absence when the case was called.

The judge granted an oral application by the prosecution after Adeyemi failed to appear when the matter, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, was called.

Opposing the application, Adeyemi’s counsel, Genesis Francis, told the court that his client feared for his life and had written to President Bola Tinubu over the alleged threats.

According to the lawyer, Adeyemi intended to remain alive to defend himself in court.

Responding, Justice Umar said, “The court will help him be alive,” before ordering that a bench warrant be issued for Adeyemi’s arrest.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until September 30, 2026, for arraignment.

The Personal Assistant to the Force Public Relations Officer, Aminu Koji, confirmed Adeyemi’s arrest in a terse statement to journalists.

Koji said Adeyemi was arrested in Osun State by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team.

“We have just confirmed the arrest of Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi by a team of the Intelligence Response Team in Osun State. Thank you,” Koji said.

The arrest was earlier seen in a video released by TVC News, showing Adeyemi in police custody.

The police had filed the eight-count charge against Adeyemi on November 27, 2025, accusing him and two other suspects identified simply as Femi and Anu, who are said to be at large, of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation in connection with the operation of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has repeatedly said does not exist.

Adeyemi’s arrest details

Before he was eventually nabbed in Osun State, it was gathered that Adeniyi had been trailed by a team from the Department of State Services for more than a week.

He was said to have switched off his mobile phones for about two days, making it difficult to locate him.

It was further learnt that the DSS team later retreated, as members of the police Intelligence Response Team led by CSP Moses Lohor, moved into the state and continued trailing Adeyemi.

Lohor previously served as the Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for the Osun State Police Command and had been involved in high-profile security operations and arrest of high-profile suspects.

He is widely regarded by many Osun residents as one of the key security officers who contributed significantly to the peace and stability enjoyed in Ilesa and other parts of the state during his tenure. Following his transfer, concerns were raised by some members of the public about the security situation in the state and the impact of his redeployment.

A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said Adeyemi was arrested by the IRT Tuesday morning and informed Osun State Police Command Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan, after the operation had been concluded.

“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,” source said.

When contacted, Osun State Police Command spokesman, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrest but refused to give further information as he simply said the IGP IRT team from Abuja carried out the operation.