The controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) took a twist on Tuesday as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, formally denied allegations of bribery, abuse of office and other criminal conduct levelled against him by the self-styled Director-General of the council, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, while President Bola Tinubu ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conclude a comprehensive investigation into the matter within 30 days.
The Presidency maintains that the PFIPC is a fictitious organisation with no legal or constitutional backing, insisting it was never established by the Federal Government. According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the investigation will examine the alleged forgery of government documents, impersonation of public officials, fraudulent use of presidential appointments, opening of bank accounts in the names of government agencies, movement of funds and the role of any individuals or institutions that may have facilitated the scheme. The ICPC has also been directed to identify institutional loopholes exploited by those behind the alleged operation and recommend reforms to prevent similar incidents.
The latest directive comes days after Adeyemi publicly accused Gbajabiamila of demanding bribes in connection with his purported appointment as Director-General of the PFIPC.
At a press conference in Abuja, Adeyemi alleged that he paid an initial ₦200 million to secure the position, with another ₦200 million expected later. He further claimed that the Chief of Staff demanded a share of the council’s proposed take-off funding and received money through proxies. He also made additional allegations bordering on abuse of office, criminal cover-up and murder.
Gbajabiamila has categorically denied the claims.
In a cease-and-desist letter signed by his counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), the Chief of Staff said he had never met, spoken with or conducted any personal or official business with Adeyemi.
The letter described the allegations as “malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation” and demanded the immediate removal of all videos, transcripts and publications containing the allegations from every platform where they were circulated.
Gbajabiamila also demanded a full retraction and public apology to be published in at least five national newspapers and across all social media platforms, together with a written undertaking that no further defamatory statements would be made against him.
His lawyers warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would result in both criminal and civil proceedings, including a ₦10 billion suit for aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as an application for a perpetual injunction restraining Adeyemi from making further allegations.
According to the legal team, the allegations were particularly disturbing because criminal proceedings had already been instituted against Adeyemi.
“It is even more disturbing to our client that you resorted to defaming him through your press statements after a criminal charge had been filed against you,” the letter stated, adding that “trial by media remains unknown to Nigerian law and cannot be a substitute for due process.”
The Presidency has consistently maintained that Adeyemi was never appointed by President Tinubu and that the PFIPC has no legal existence.
Earlier, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said investigations by security agencies showed that Adeyemi allegedly forged appointment documents, impersonated government officials and operated the purported agency using fraudulent documentation. According to the Presidency, the Nigeria Police have already filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two others over alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences, with the case scheduled to continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja later this month.
Despite the Presidency’s position, the controversy has intensified following reports that an entity described in the 2026 Appropriation Act as the “Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” received budgetary allocations exceeding ₦1.3 billion, including about ₦803 million for personnel, ₦200 million for overheads and ₦300 million for capital expenditure. The budget reference has fuelled public debate over how a body the Presidency insists does not exist appeared in official budget documents.
The scandal has also attracted wider legal and political attention.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer Femi Falana has argued that only an independent investigation can determine the facts surrounding the controversy, maintaining that no arm of the Executive has the constitutional authority to exonerate any individual while criminal allegations remain under investigation.
President Tinubu has now directed that the ICPC establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fake agency, identify everyone involved and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The integrity of the Presidency and the institutions of the Federal Government must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service,” the President said through his spokesman.
With criminal charges already before the court, Gbajabiamila threatening legal action over alleged defamation, and the ICPC now under presidential directive to unravel the entire scheme within 30 days, the PFIPC controversy has entered a new phase, with investigators expected to determine whether the affair was an elaborate fraud, a deeper institutional failure, or both.
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