The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Muhammed Umar of has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the controversial self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) Adeniyi Adeyemi after failing to appear for his scheduled arraignment.
The arrest order followed an oral application made by the police lawyer, Wisdom Madaki as Adeyemi was billed to take his plea on an eight-count charge relating to forgery, fraud, and impersonation.
Though a lawyer, Genesis Francis, announced his appearance on his behalf Adeyemi after the case was called, the prosecution counsel noted that the defendant had repeatedly failed to appear for his trial.
“My lord, this is the fifth time this case is coming up, and all the adjournments have been at the instance of the defendant,” the prosecution lawyer noted.
Relying on Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for his arrest, an application that was immediately opposed by the defence lawyer, who blamed his client’s absence in court on alleged threats to his life.
The defence lawyer drew the court’s attention to the fact that his client was present for his arraignment on May 16, a date to which he said the case was later adjourned.
Justice Umar, in his ruling, said he was minded to accede to the application for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the defendant.
Justice Umar noted that since the charge was filed, the defendant had appeared before the court only once.
The Judge, therefore issued a warrant mandating security agencies to arrest and produce the defendant before the court on September 30 for arraignment.
Recall, Adeyemi is facing an 8-count charge of felony to wit he forged an appointment letter purported to have been issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, among other things.
