A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the immediate arrest of Prince Ademola Adeniyi, who claims to be the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), after he failed to appear for his arraignment.
Justice Mohammed Umar made the order on Tuesday following an oral application by the prosecution counsel, Wisdom Madaki, who argued that the defendant had consistently failed to honour court proceedings.
Adeniyi was scheduled to take his plea on an eight-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation before the court sitting in the Maitama area of Abuja.
Although the case was listed as No. 12 on the court’s cause list, the defendant was absent when the matter was called. A lawyer, Genesis Francis, appeared in court and announced his appearance on behalf of the defendant.
Addressing the court, the prosecutor informed Justice Umar that the defendant had repeatedly failed to appear despite several adjournments.
“My Lord, this is the fifth time this case is coming up, and all the adjournments have been at the instance of the defendant,” Madaki submitted.
He subsequently invoked Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, urging the court to issue a warrant for Adeniyi’s arrest to compel his appearance.
Justice Umar granted the application and ordered the immediate arrest of the defendant to ensure he is brought before the court to answer the charges against him.
