The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment.

Justice Muhammed Umar granted the application for the arrest following a request by police counsel Wisdom Madaki.

During the court session, defence counsel Genesis Francis appeared on behalf of Adeyemi, but the defendant was absent.

Wisdom Madaki told the court that the case had come up five times and that each adjournment had been at Adeyemi's instance. He asked the court to invoke Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and issue a warrant for his arrest.

Francis opposed the request, arguing that his client's absence was due to alleged threats to his life and noting that Adeyemi had attended court on May 16 before the matter was adjourned.

In his ruling, Justice Umar reviewed the case history, ordering security agencies to arrest Adeyemi and produce him before the court on September 30 for his arraignment.