Adeniyi Adeyemi, the detained man who says he headed the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, has challenged claims that he created the body without help, alleging that several federal ministries, departments and agencies processed or recognised its activities. His lawyers are asking the House of Representatives to hear his evidence before completing its investigation into the fake agency scandal, while official inquiries and court proceedings continue.
The request was made on Sunday, 2 August, through a statement signed by Festus Akhigbe on behalf of Adeyemi’s legal defence team. No court or investigative panel has established the truth of his latest claims, and readers should treat them as allegations until the evidence has been tested.
Adeyemi’s lawyers said the House ad hoc committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, should arrange for him to appear and give evidence despite his detention.
They argued that publishing a final report without hearing from him would breach his right to a fair hearing. In simple terms, fair hearing means giving someone directly affected by an investigation a reasonable opportunity to answer allegations and present evidence.
Adeyemi alleges official support across government
The legal team rejected attempts to present Adeyemi as an “isolated, mastermind impostor” who created the disputed council without support from people or institutions within government.
It alleged that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation received documents connected with the council and helped it secure office space inside the Federal Secretariat.
The lawyers also claimed that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria acted on official documents to provide administrative budget codes, self-accounting status and operational bank accounts.
They further alleged that federal civil servants were posted to the council and that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service approved its organisational structure and recruitment waivers for 314 workers.
Other claims included that leaders of security agencies attended programmes organised by the council and that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission allocated a property to the body, requested a processing payment and gave its leadership a recognition plaque.
These claims have not been independently confirmed. Adeyemi’s lawyers said their client was being made “a scapegoat” for wider weaknesses in government procedures and called for an inquiry involving legal experts, civil society representatives and independent observers.
The controversy has raised questions about how a body disowned by the Presidency could allegedly obtain office space, banking arrangements, staffing approvals and contact with senior public institutions.
Presidency insists council was never legally created
The Presidency maintains that the PFIPC was fictitious and was never established through legislation, presidential approval or another lawful government instrument.
A State House statement said Adeyemi allegedly used forged documents and falsely presented himself as a presidential appointee. It added that police filed eight charges against him and two others, including alleged forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Those are criminal allegations, not proven facts. Adeyemi has disputed the government’s account and is entitled to defend himself before the court.
President Bola Tinubu ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the council and the wider circumstances that allowed it to appear legitimate.
The presidential directive required investigators to examine the conduct of public officials, financial institutions, private individuals and intermediaries who may have facilitated the disputed council’s operations. It also instructed federal MDAs—ministries, departments and agencies—to provide relevant records when lawfully requested.
The ICPC later confirmed that presidential Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila attended its Abuja headquarters on 20 July to provide a statement. The commission made clear that he was invited as part of its investigation and was not arrested.
Adeyemi’s latest defence does not prove that the council was lawfully established. However, his allegations strengthen calls for investigators to examine the actions of every public institution involved rather than limiting scrutiny to one person.
Readers can view the original PUNCH report that formed the basis of this article. Earlier New Daily Prime coverage is also available in its report: Adeyemi insists he paid Gbajabiamila N400m to secure his appointment.
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