‘I’m Ready To Face The Law’ – ‘Non-existent’ Presidential Council DG Says

Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has denied allegations of forgery and impersonation, saying he is ready to defend himself in court.

Naija News reports that Adeyemi spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday amid the deepening controversy over the alleged agency, which the Presidency has disowned.

For months, Adeyemi had publicly spoken about his activities with the council and appeared in photographs with prominent Nigerians, but the Presidency has since described the organisation as fictitious and filed criminal charges against him.

Asked if he was ready to face the law, Adeyemi said, “Definitely, sir. If I’m wrong, let the court of law do that, and if I’m right, let the court of law do that; do the right thing.”

Adeyemi rejected claims that he was a fraudster, insisting that the matter should be allowed to proceed before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Since the matter is in the court, let the court of competent jurisdiction vindicate me because I’m ready to clear my name,” he said.

“Let the court take its course. Since my lawyers are involved, everybody will follow us. They will monitor the whole thing.”

When asked about the source of funding for the salaries of staff under the council, Adeyemi declined to provide details, saying the matter was already before the court.

“The truth will be unravelled at the court of law,” he said.

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, had earlier described Adeyemi as a “con artist” who allegedly forged official documents and falsely presented himself as head of a non-existent presidential agency.

“We are aware of the public interest in the matter of a man called Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, who has been parading himself as the director-general of a fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council,” Onanuga said.

He added that police investigations had established allegations of forgery, impersonation and fraudulent misrepresentation against Adeyemi.

The Presidency said an eight-count charge had been filed against him and two alleged accomplices before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adeyemi, however, denied wrongdoing and accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of frustrating his activities after he allegedly refused certain demands.

He claimed the disagreement was linked to an alleged request for 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant of ₦27.39bn.

“The major rationale behind the disagreement between myself and the Chief of Staff is that he allegedly requested 48 per cent of the take-off grant from the same agency, which he denies,” Adeyemi claimed.

He further alleged that ₦400m had been collected by proxy, with an outstanding ₦200m allegedly demanded to secure the appointment.

Adeyemi called on President Bola Tinubu to set up an independent investigative panel to examine the allegations.

The controversy has also raised questions over the appearance of an entity described as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

The Budget Office’s published details reportedly listed the entity with a total allocation of ₦1.303bn, comprising ₦802.98m for personnel, ₦200m for overhead and ₦300m for capital expenditure.

The Presidency, however, maintained that the agency does not exist and alleged that Adeyemi opened multiple bank accounts linked to fictitious entities.

According to the Presidency, police found that Adeyemi allegedly used fake documents to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, though no government funds were paid into the account.

The case is expected to continue at the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 27.