The arrest of the self-proclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has intensified controversy surrounding the alleged agency, with fresh demands for investigations into the Senate’s oversight role and corruption allegations involving President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Newsonspot reports that Adeyemi was arrested on Tuesday at his hideout in Osun State after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his arrest for failing to appear in court for his scheduled arraignment. He is expected to be transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation.
During the court proceedings, Adeyemi’s lawyer, Genesis Francis, told the court that his client declined to attend the hearing because he feared for his safety, citing concerns expressed in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu.
However, prosecuting counsel, Wisdom Madaki, argued that the defendant’s repeated absence had delayed the case and requested a warrant of arrest under Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
Justice Umar granted the application, noting that the charges were filed on November 27, 2025, and that Adeyemi had appeared in court only once before failing to attend subsequent hearings. The case was adjourned until September 30.
Following the arrest, African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, called on President Tinubu to suspend Gbajabiamila pending an independent investigation into the corruption allegations against him.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku argued that the government must not ignore allegations involving senior officials while claiming to be committed to fighting corruption. He cited former President Muhammadu Buhari’s suspension of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as a precedent for allowing investigations to proceed without interference.
Atiku also referenced allegations that Gbajabiamila unlawfully received billions of naira in oil and gas royalties from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) through what he described as a fake law presented for presidential approval. He insisted that the Chief of Staff should be given the opportunity to clear his name through an independent investigation.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore also reacted to Adeyemi’s arrest, alleging it was part of an attempt to cover up the truth behind an alleged N400 million bribery scandal.
In a post on X, Sowore claimed the circumstances surrounding Adeyemi’s arrest suggested an official cover-up rather than a genuine effort to uncover the facts. He maintained that Gbajabiamila should equally be investigated if the authorities were sincere about ensuring accountability.
Sowore further alleged that the person accused of receiving the alleged N400 million on behalf of Gbajabiamila had died under mysterious circumstances, while the hotel where the alleged transaction reportedly occurred had since been demolished. He accused the Federal Government of attempting to obstruct justice.
Meanwhile, former Senator Femi Okunrounmu criticised the Senate for allegedly failing to carry out effective oversight of the purported agency. He stressed that regardless of differing opinions over calls for the suspension of government officials, the priority should be a transparent, credible and impartial investigation capable of restoring public confidence.
