How police tracked, arrested self-styled PFIPC DG in Osun

The self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, was arrested in Osun State on Tuesday after an intensive manhunt by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT), ending days of efforts to evade security agencies.

Adeyemi was apprehended hours after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his failure to appear for arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

Security sources disclosed that Adeyemi had gone into hiding in Osun State and switched off his mobile phones for about two days in a bid to avoid detection.

The sources said operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had initially tracked him for more than a week but were unable to effect his arrest before the operation was taken over by the police Intelligence Response Team.

The IRT team, led by CSP Moses Lohor, continued surveillance in Osun and eventually traced Adeyemi to his hideout on Tuesday morning, where he was arrested without incident.

Following the operation, the suspect was immediately moved out of Osun State to Ibadan before being transferred to Abuja to face the charges against him.

The Personal Assistant to the Force Public Relations Officer, Aminu Koji, confirmed the arrest, stating that Adeyemi was apprehended in Osun by the Intelligence Response Team.

The arrest followed a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court after Adeyemi failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment. His lawyer, Genesis Francis, had told the court that his client stayed away because he feared for his life and had written to President Bola Tinubu seeking protection.

Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force, alleging conspiracy, forgery and impersonation in connection with the operation of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has repeatedly stated does not exist.

The police accused him of forging official government documents, including a presidential appointment letter and State House documents, and falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the alleged agency.

The Federal High Court has adjourned the case until September 30, 2026, when Adeyemi is expected to be arraigned.