Fake Council: Police file eight-count charge against Adeyemi

The Federal Government has filed an eight-count charge against Adeniyi Adeyemi, convener of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), over allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation and related offences.

However, Adeyemi has maintained his innocence, insisting that he was duly appointed and possesses a valid appointment letter.

The development comes amid growing controversy over the alleged agency, which the Presidency has described as fictitious despite reports that it received a budgetary allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the charges were filed by the Nigeria Police Force at the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 27, 2025.

He disclosed that Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices are expected to appear before the court on July 27, 2026.

According to Onanuga, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alerted the Department of State Services and the police in October 2025 after receiving complaints that the purported agency was operating alongside the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission.

He said forged appointment letters bearing the Chief of Staff’s signature, reference numbers and official seals were allegedly used to legitimise the organisation.

Onanuga added that police arrested Adeyemi in Abuja on October 27, 2025, and recovered allegedly forged documents during searches of his office and residence.

“Based on their investigations, the police filed an eight-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja against Adeyemi and two of his accomplices on November 27, 2025. He is due in court on July 27,” the statement read.

He further alleged that Adeyemi was already on police bail when he recently claimed that Gbajabiamila had appointed him Director-General of the council.

The presidential spokesman also said Adeyemi informed investigators that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola assisted him in obtaining the alleged appointment letter.

According to him, police investigations revealed that Tanimola died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Abuja on October 22, 2025, five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.

“The police were able to establish that the agency Adeyemi purportedly headed was fictitious; that he forged his appointment letter and other documents recovered from his office and residence; falsely paraded himself as a government appointee; and solicited a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enable him and members of his staff obtain United States visas,” Onanuga stated.

The Presidency had earlier, on June 11, denied the existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and disowned Adeyemi’s claim that he was appointed to head the body.

Budget controversy

Despite the Presidency’s position, documents from the 2026 Appropriation Act indicate that N1.302 billion was allocated to the council under the Presidency.

The budget reportedly earmarked N802.978 million for personnel costs, N200 million for overhead expenses and N300 million for capital projects.

The revelation has raised fresh questions over how funds were appropriated for an agency the Presidency insists does not exist.

Adeyemi insists appointment was genuine

Responding to the allegations, Adeyemi rejected the government’s position, insisting he would defend himself in court.

“I will not be intimidated. I will not be discredited without responding because Nigerians deserve to know the truth,” he said in a statement.

He questioned how the agency’s name appeared in the 2026 national budget if it was truly non-existent.

“How did the agency’s name get into the 2026 Appropriation Act? If the agency does not exist, yet found its way into the national budget, then serious questions must be answered,” he said.

Adeyemi also claimed that the agency maintained domiciliary accounts, a pounds sterling account and a Treasury Single Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday, Adeyemi reiterated that he was prepared to defend himself before the court.

“I have a letter of appointment. Since the matter is already before the court, I cannot say much. Let the court of competent jurisdiction determine the facts,” he said.

When asked whether Gbajabiamila was aware of his appointment, Adeyemi responded in the affirmative.

He also argued that he could not have operated openly, met with heads of ministries, departments and agencies and carried out official engagements for nearly three years if the council was entirely fictitious.

Atiku faults Presidency’s explanation

Meanwhile, former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has described the controversy as evidence of institutional failure within the Federal Government.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the Presidency’s explanation failed to address how a supposedly non-existent agency found its way into the 2026 budget.

He questioned who prepared the agency’s budget estimates, who defended them before the National Assembly and how President Bola Tinubu eventually signed the appropriation bill into law.

Atiku also criticised the National Assembly, the Central Bank of Nigeria and anti-corruption agencies, saying the scandal exposed weaknesses in governance and accountability.

He called for an independent investigation into the matter, insisting that all individuals found culpable should be held accountable, regardless of their status.

The case is expected to come before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 27.

Source: Vanguard