Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi has maintained that his appointment as Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and Presidential Economic Advisory Council was legitimate, despite the Presidency describing both entities as fictitious.
Speaking during a telephone interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, Adeyemi said he remained confident that the courts would establish the truth as legal proceedings continue.
Defendant Says He Is Ready to Face Trial
Adeyemi, who is facing charges including conspiracy, forgery and impersonation, rejected suggestions that he was attempting to evade justice.
He stated that he was prepared to defend himself before the courts and said the judicial process should be allowed to determine whether the allegations against him are valid.
According to him, he is relying on the legal process to clear his name and has instructed his lawyers to handle the matter while the public follows the proceedings.
Claims to Possess Official Appointment Letter
While declining to discuss details because the matter is before the court, Adeyemi insisted he possesses a genuine appointment letter supporting his claims.
He also disclosed that he is currently receiving medical treatment and said his health condition limits the extent to which he can comment publicly on the case.
Responding to questions about the criminal allegations, Adeyemi denied being a criminal and reiterated that only the court has the authority to determine the merits of the case.
Adeyemi Questions Allegations Against Purported Agency
Addressing the controversy surrounding the existence of the agency, Adeyemi argued that it would have been impossible for him to openly engage with senior government officials for several years if the organisation had been entirely fabricated.
He said he had interacted with ministries, departments and agencies across Nigeria and questioned why such activities would have continued unchecked if the agency lacked legitimacy.
Adeyemi maintained that his public engagements over nearly three years demonstrated that the organisation operated openly rather than secretly.
Presidency Rejects Agency as Fictitious
The Presidency, however, has dismissed Adeyemi’s assertions, identifying him as an alleged impostor facing prosecution over what it described as an elaborate forgery and impersonation scheme.
In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, officials said investigations by the Nigeria Police concluded that Adeyemi forged a presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The Presidency further alleged that Adeyemi established and operated non-existent government agencies while maintaining dozens of bank accounts, including several reportedly opened in the names of fictitious public institutions.
Police Filed Multiple Criminal Charges
According to the Presidency, Adeyemi was arrested on October 27, 2025, after a petition submitted by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila prompted a police investigation.
Authorities subsequently filed an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against Adeyemi and two other defendants, accusing them of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
The case has been scheduled for further hearing on July 27, 2026.
Earlier Concerns Raised by Government Agencies
The Presidency also disclosed that concerns about the activities of the purported council had previously been reported by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission before police launched their investigation.
Officials said those complaints formed part of the background to the criminal inquiry now before the court.
Allegations Against Chief of Staff Intensify Dispute
The government’s response followed recent allegations made by Adeyemi against Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.
Adeyemi claimed the presidential aide demanded ₦27.4 billion, representing 48 percent of the agency’s proposed take-off funding, and further alleged that ₦400 million was paid through an intermediary to facilitate his appointment, with an additional ₦200 million still outstanding.
The Presidency has rejected those allegations.
Calls for Independent Investigation
Amid the ongoing legal dispute, Adeyemi has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the competing claims.
He urged the proposed committee to examine official documents relating to the disputed agencies, publish its findings publicly and determine the legitimacy of the appointments in question.
Adeyemi also called on Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to temporarily step aside while any independent investigation is conducted.
