Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is facing criminal charges over alleged forgery, conspiracy and impersonation, has maintained that his appointment as Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) was legitimate, insisting the courts would ultimately clear his name.
Adeyemi made the assertion during a telephone interview on Thursday, saying he was prepared to face trial and was confident that the judicial process would vindicate him.
Responding to questions about whether he was evading the law, Adeyemi said he was not and expressed readiness to defend himself before the court.
“If I am wrong, let the court of law decide that. If I am right, let the court do the right thing. Since the matter is already before a court of competent jurisdiction, I am ready to clear my name and allow the legal process to take its course,” he said.
He also disclosed that he possesses what he described as a valid letter of appointment but declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing court proceedings. Adeyemi added that he was currently receiving medical treatment and was unwell.
Rejecting allegations that he was a criminal, the embattled official insisted the court would determine the truth of the matter.
Addressing Nigerians, Adeyemi questioned claims by the Presidency that the PFIPC never existed, arguing that he could not have openly engaged ministries, departments and agencies across the country for nearly three years if the organisation had been fictitious.
He said no one would have had the audacity to operate publicly in that manner if the agency did not exist, maintaining that Nigeria was not a country where such activities could continue unchecked.
The controversy follows Wednesday’s statement by the Presidency, which described Adeyemi as an impostor accused of operating a non-existent government agency.
According to the Presidency, investigations by the Nigeria Police revealed that Adeyemi allegedly forged a presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and operated a fictitious government agency while maintaining 34 bank accounts, including nine allegedly opened in the names of non-existent government bodies.
READ ALSO:Â Presidency Raises Alarm Over Deepfakes, Religious Manipulation Ahead Of 2027 Elections
The Presidency said Adeyemi was arrested on October 27, 2025, following a petition by Gbajabiamila, who accused him of masterminding an elaborate forgery and impersonation scheme.
Police subsequently filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two other suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing them of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. The matter is scheduled to resume on July 27, 2026.
Government officials also disclosed that both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission had earlier raised concerns over the activities of the purported agency before police launched their investigation.
Before the Presidency’s rebuttal, Adeyemi had levelled fresh allegations against Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, claiming he demanded ₦27.4 billion—representing 48 per cent of the agency’s proposed take-off grant—and also alleged that ₦400 million was paid 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 panel to investigate the allegations, review official documents relating to the disputed agencies and make its findings public. He also urged the Chief of Staff to step aside pending the outcome of the proposed investigation.
The Presidency has dismissed the allegations, insisting that the criminal charges against Adeyemi will be resolved through the courts.