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The Nigeria Police Force has arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), in Osun State.

Adeyemi’s arrest came hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant against him for failing to appear in court for arraignment on allegations of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.

Confirming the development yesterday, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from Abuja apprehended Adeyemi at his hideout in Osun State. He is expected to be transferred to Abuja to face prosecution.

A video of the arrest showed Adeyemi, dressed in a light blue traditional outfit, surrounded by security operatives while responding to questions about his identity.

Earlier yesterday, Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear in court to take his plea on an eight-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the police, Adeyemi operated a non-existent government agency known as the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, despite the Presidency maintaining that no such agency exists.

The court rejected the explanation by Adeyemi’s counsel that his client stayed away from court because he feared for his life and subsequently adjourned the case until September 30, 2026, for arraignment.

During a television interview on Monday, Adeyemi denied reports that he was evading arrest, insisting that his absence was due to concerns over threats to his life.

Investigators further alleged that he forged official documents, including a purported presidential appointment letter allegedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the council, Executive Branch.

The police also alleged that Adeyemi operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja while claiming to head the disputed agency.

If convicted, Adeyemi could face up to 21 years imprisonment on forgery-related charges, while the impersonation charge carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment or a fine.

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has escalated its leadership dispute to the Supreme Court following Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s ward, local government and state congresses, insisting the ruling does not invalidate its direct primaries or candidates for the 2027 general elections.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party announced that it had commenced the process of challenging the appellate court’s decision, which it described as legally unsustainable.

The ADC maintained that the judgment was limited to issues surrounding the conduct of its congresses and had no bearing on the direct primaries through which its candidates emerged across the country.

According to the party, it is also encouraged by the dissenting opinion of the presiding justice, which it believes correctly reflects the legal position and supports its interpretation of the dispute.

“The judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the party’s candidates have emerged at all levels,” the statement said.

The party urged members and supporters to remain calm, assuring them that its preparations for the 2027 general elections would continue uninterrupted while the legal battle moves to the nation’s apex court.

The appeal marks the latest chapter in the ADC’s prolonged internal leadership crisis, which has triggered rival claims over the party’s structure and generated multiple court cases ahead of the next general election.

The controversy also follows recent allegations by a rival faction that it had uploaded candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal—a claim rejected by both the party leadership and the electoral commission. INEC has maintained that it recognises only the National Executive Committee led by Senator David Mark.

Reaffirming its commitment to the electoral process, the ADC said it would continue to pursue its political objectives through constitutional means while seeking a final judicial determination from the Supreme Court.

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By Gloria Ikibah

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has urged the National Assembly to forge stronger partnerships with civil society organisations (CSOs), saying effective legislative oversight is essential if government spending and public policies are to deliver real benefits to Nigerians.

Dogara made the appeal on Tuesday during the National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, where lawmakers, development partners, civil society groups and the media gathered to examine ways of strengthening transparency, accountability and public participation in governance.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, the former Speaker said many citizens were still waiting to enjoy the full dividends of democratic governance despite the huge sums approved by parliament over the years.

He questioned why there remained a wide gap between what the National Assembly appropriates and what ultimately reaches ordinary Nigerians, describing the disconnect as one of the country’s biggest governance failures.

“The essence of oversight is to ensure that every kobo appropriated by the National Assembly is spent for the purpose for which it was approved and that Nigerians receive value for public funds,” he said.

Dogara stressed that legislative oversight should not be reduced to routine committee visits or the production of official reports, arguing that its real purpose is to expose corruption, inefficiency, waste and poor governance.

He commended the leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for introducing the National Assembly Open Week, describing it as an important step towards making parliament more accessible and accountable.

According to him, the initiative provides citizens, civil society organisations and the media with an opportunity to engage lawmakers directly, ask difficult questions and make meaningful contributions to the legislative process.

Dogara maintained that democratic institutions become stronger when they willingly open themselves to public scrutiny instead of operating behind closed doors.

He warned that legislative oversight loses its value when it becomes a ceremonial exercise rather than a genuine mechanism for ensuring government programmes are implemented as approved and in the public interest.

The former Speaker argued that civil society organisations should be regarded as partners in governance rather than critics standing on the sidelines.

He said many CSOs possess technical expertise, grassroots knowledge and field-based evidence that can strengthen the oversight work of parliament.

Describing civil society groups as the “eyes and ears” of the legislature, Dogara said they play an indispensable role in tracking constituency projects, monitoring public spending and identifying failures in service delivery.

Recalling his time as Speaker, he said he deliberately encouraged civil society participation during budget defence sessions despite resistance from some lawmakers who were uncomfortable with increased public scrutiny.

According to him, institutions that resist openness ultimately undermine public confidence in democratic governance.

Dogara identified the persistent gap between budget approvals and project execution as one of Nigeria’s greatest accountability challenges, arguing that the problem lies less with the availability of funds than with weak monitoring and enforcement.

He therefore urged lawmakers to devote as much attention to monitoring budget implementation as they do to passing appropriation bills, insisting that the work of parliament should not end once a budget is approved.

The former Speaker also called on the Executive to cooperate fully with legislative oversight by embracing transparency and providing timely access to information required for effective scrutiny.

He encouraged civil society organisations to support the National Assembly with credible data, verified evidence and properly documented findings capable of influencing policy and prompting corrective action where necessary.

Dogara further advocated institutionalising collaboration between parliament and civil society beyond annual events such as the Open Week, saying sustained engagement would strengthen oversight, improve accountability and deepen public trust in democratic institutions.

He concluded that democracy can only thrive where transparency, accountability and constructive criticism are embraced, urging lawmakers, parliamentary staff, civil society organisations and citizens to work together to ensure government policies, budgets and development projects translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of Nigerians.