The controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has taken a new turn, with the Presidency accusing insiders within government institutions of helping an individual allegedly operate the fictitious agency for years.
The development has further intensified the dispute involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is accused of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council.
While the Presidency maintains that the PFIPC was never an officially recognised government body, critics continue to question reports suggesting that funds were allocated to an entity bearing the same or a similar name in the 2026 national budget.
Presidency Calls for Full Investigation
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has urged security and anti-corruption agencies—including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)—to identify and prosecute all government officials who allegedly facilitated the operation.
According to Ajayi, the scale of the alleged fraud indicates that Adeyemi could not have acted alone.
He argued that investigators must uncover those who allegedly enabled Adeyemi to obtain forged presidential appointment letters, operate numerous bank accounts under fictitious government agencies, receive foreign diplomats, and even open an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) while posing as the head of the PFIPC.
Ajayi stated that dismantling the network of collaborators was essential to restoring confidence in public institutions.
‘Internal Collaborators Made It Possible’
Ajayi described Adeyemi as “an irredeemable con artist” who allegedly exploited public distrust of government institutions by dragging the Chief of Staff into the controversy in an attempt to evade responsibility.
He maintained that although many observers had criticised the apparent institutional failures that allowed the scheme to thrive, the same government institutions eventually uncovered the irregularities.
According to him, officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noticed inconsistencies surrounding the activities of the purported council and reported the matter to the appropriate authorities, leading to official intervention.
Presidency Reaffirms PFIPC Never Existed
The Presidency recalled that on June 11, 2026, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila issued a public disclaimer warning foreign diplomatic missions, financial institutions and international organisations that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council had no legal or official status.
The statement also clarified that no individual had ever been validly appointed to head such an organisation.
Adeyemi Facing Fraud Charges
According to the Presidency, Adeyemi has already been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge bordering on fraud and forgery.
Prosecutors allege that he operated 34 bank accounts linked to fictitious government agencies and fraudulently opened a Central Bank account using forged official documents.
He is expected to return to court on July 27, alongside two other suspects who remain at large.
Kwankwasiyya Movement Raises Budget Questions
Meanwhile, the Kwankwasiyya Movement says the controversy extends beyond the alleged actions of one individual and has become a serious issue of public accountability.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Dr. Habibu Sale Mohammed, the movement questioned the Presidency’s insistence that the PFIPC never existed despite reports that more than ₦1 billion was allocated to an entity with the same or a similar name in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The group asked several questions, including how such an organisation allegedly appeared in the national budget if it had no legal existence, who initiated and approved the allocation, which government offices processed the documentation, whether any public funds were released, and how allegedly forged documents remained in circulation for such an extended period without detection.
According to the movement, these are legitimate questions of public accountability rather than partisan political attacks.
It added that the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transparency would be measured by its willingness to provide comprehensive answers and ensure an independent investigation.
The group also warned that conflicting official narratives or attempts to shift responsibility could further weaken public trust in government and damage Nigeria’s international reputation.
It therefore called on the National Assembly, anti-corruption agencies and other oversight institutions to conduct an independent probe into the entire affair.
Falana Demands Independent Investigation
The Presidency’s position has also drawn criticism from senior lawyer and human rights advocate Femi Falana, who argued that the executive arm of government lacks the constitutional authority to clear anyone connected with the scandal.
Falana urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to independently investigate both Gbajabiamila and Adeyemi.
He also called for a detailed explanation of how billions of naira were reportedly appropriated to a council that the government now insists never existed and how such an organisation allegedly operated within official institutions for an extended period without raising earlier concerns.
The controversy continues to generate widespread public debate as investigations proceed, with growing calls for transparency, accountability and a comprehensive review of the circumstances surrounding the alleged fictitious agency.
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