Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), has insisted that his appointment was legitimate despite facing criminal charges of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
Adeyemi, who is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja, said the matter was already before the court and expressed confidence that he would be vindicated.
He made the remarks on Thursday during a telephone interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Asked whether he was evading the law, Adeyemi replied, “Not at all.”
On whether he was prepared to stand trial, he said he was ready to allow the judicial process to determine the facts.
“Definitely. If I am wrong, let the court of law say so; if I am right, let the court of law do the right thing. Since the matter is in court, let the court of competent jurisdiction vindicate me because I am ready to clear my name. Let the court take its course. My lawyers are involved, and everyone will follow the proceedings. Let the court do the needful,” he said.
Adeyemi maintained that he possessed a valid letter of appointment but declined to provide further details because the case is pending before the court.
“I have a letter of appointment. However, since the matter is in court, I won’t be able to say much about it. I am on medication. I am a bit down; I am sick,” he added.
When asked whether he considered himself a criminal, Adeyemi responded, “No, I am not a criminal. However, the court will do justice to that.”
Addressing Nigerians, he questioned claims by the Presidency that the agency never existed.
“For one second, let us assume the agency does not exist. Would I have the temerity, the audacity, to be going all over the country, meeting heads of ministries, departments and agencies if I knew the agency did not exist, or as they allege that I fabricated everything? No Nigerian can dare do that. I could not have done this for almost three years. Nigeria is not a banana republic,” he said.
For several months, Adeyemi reportedly operated publicly under the name of the PFIPC, hosting high-profile events and engaging with government agencies.
According to earlier reports and his previous statements, the council also secured a proposed allocation of ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 national budget.
However, the Presidency on Wednesday dismissed Adeyemi’s claim to the office, describing him as an impostor facing criminal prosecution over an alleged forgery and impersonation scheme.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said police investigations revealed that Adeyemi allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, operated a fictitious government agency and maintained 34 bank accounts, including nine allegedly opened in the names of non-existent government bodies.
According to the Presidency, Adeyemi was arrested on October 27, 2025, following a petition by Gbajabiamila to security agencies over what was described as an elaborate forgery and impersonation scheme.
The statement added that the Nigeria Police subsequently filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
The case is scheduled to resume on July 27, 2026.
The Presidency also disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) had separately raised concerns about the activities of the purported agency before police commenced investigations.
The rebuttal followed Adeyemi’s allegations that the Chief of Staff demanded ₦27.4 billion—representing 48 per cent of the agency’s proposed take-off grant—and received ₦400 million through a proxy to facilitate his appointment, with an outstanding balance of ₦200 million.
Adeyemi has called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel to examine the allegations, review official documents relating to the disputed agencies and make its findings public.
He also urged Gbajabiamila to step aside pending the outcome of any investigation.
