Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and Presidential Economic Advisory Council, has insisted that his appointment was genuine despite being declared an impostor by the Presidency.
Adeyemi, who is facing charges bordering on alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation, said he was confident the court would clear his name, stressing that the matter should be left to the judicial process.
Speaking during a telephone interview on Politics Today on Channels Television on Thursday, he dismissed suggestions that he was evading justice.
“Not at all,” he said when asked if he was avoiding the law.
On whether he was ready to stand trial, Adeyemi replied, “Definitely. If I am wrong, let the court decide that; if I am right, let the court do the right thing. Since the matter is before the court, let the court of competent jurisdiction vindicate me. I am ready to clear my name.”
He maintained that he possesses a letter of appointment but declined to disclose further details because the case is already 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 and sick,” he added.
Adeyemi also rejected being described as a criminal, insisting that only the court could determine his guilt or innocence.
Addressing Nigerians, he questioned claims that the agency never existed, arguing that he could not have openly interacted with ministries, departments and agencies for nearly three years if the organisation was fictitious.
“For one second, let us assume the agency does not exist. Would I have the audacity to travel across the country meeting heads of ministries, departments and agencies if I knew it did not exist? Nigeria is not a banana republic,” he said.
For months, Adeyemi reportedly operated publicly under the PFIPC, organising high-profile events and engaging government institutions. Reports also indicated that the council secured a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 national budget.
However, the Presidency on Wednesday dismissed his claims, 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. The Nigeria Police subsequently filed an eight-count charge against him and two alleged accomplices before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges including conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
The case is scheduled to resume on July 27, 2026.
The Presidency also said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission had raised concerns about the activities of the purported agency before the police investigation began.
The development followed Adeyemi’s allegations that Gbajabiamila 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 also called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel to examine the allegations, review documents relating to the disputed agencies and make its findings public. He further urged the Chief of Staff to step aside pending the outcome of the investigation.
