Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and Presidential Economic Advisory Council, has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, was aware of his appointment.
Adeyemi, who is facing allegations bordering on impersonation and related offences, maintained that the matter is already before a competent court and expressed confidence that he would be cleared of all allegations.
He made the remarks during a telephone interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday.
Responding to a question on whether he was evading law enforcement authorities, Adeyemi said: “Not at all.”
When asked if he was prepared to face the legal process, he replied, “Definitely, if I am wrong, let the court of law do that; if I am right, let the court of law do the right thing. Do you know what? Since the matter is in the court, let the court of competent jurisdiction vindicate me because I am ready to clear my name.
“Let the court take its course. Since my lawyers are involved, everybody will follow us, they will monitor the whole thing. Let the court of competent jurisdiction do the needful. I have a letter of appointment. However, since the matter is in the court, I won’t be able to say much about it, I am on medication. I am a bit down, I am sick.”
Asked whether he considered himself a criminal, Adeyemi responded, “No, I am not a criminal. However, the court will do justice to that.”
On whether the Chief of Staff to the President was aware of his appointment, he answered, “Yes.”
Pressed further on whether the confirmation of his appointment came through Gbajabiamila’s office, Adeyemi again replied, “Yes, let the court vindicate all those things.”
Addressing Nigerians over the controversy, Adeyemi argued that it would have been impossible for him to operate openly for years if the agency he claimed to represent did not exist.
“I want Nigerians to know that, for one second, let us assume the agency does not exist, would I have the temerity, the audacity, to be going all over the country, meeting the head of ministry, department and agency, if I know that the agency does not exist, or as they allege me that I cooked up everything? No Nigerian can dare do that. I could not have summoned the courage to be going from one place to another for almost three years. Nigeria is not a banana republic.”
LEADERSHIP reports that the Presidency had distanced itself from Adeyemi and a group known as the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council,” stating that neither the organisation nor any appointment connected to it exists under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a disclaimer issued by the Chief of Staff to the President, Gbajabiamila cautioned the public, diplomatic missions and international organisations against recognising or engaging with individuals or activities associated with the purported council.
According to Gbajabiamila, the attention of the federal government and the Office of the Chief of Staff had been drawn to the activities of Prince Adeyemi, who was allegedly presenting himself as a presidential appointee.
“It has come to the notice of the federal government of Nigeria and specifically the Office of the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, that a certain Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, under the auspices of an alleged organisation styled as the ‘Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council’ is portraying himself to the general public, as having been appointed by my office,” he said.
The Chief of Staff stressed that no such appointment had been approved and that the so-called council is not recognised by the Tinubu administration.
“The unsuspecting public is hereby advised to note that such an office does not exist under this administration and no appointment has been made in that regard,” Gbajabiamila added.
