Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has rejected claims that he single-handedly created the organization, insisting that several government institutions processed documents and engaged with the council.
Adeyemi, who is in police custody, made the claim in a statement issued on Sunday, August 2, 2026, by his legal team led by Festus Akhigbe. He also requested to appear before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the council.
His lawyers, in a statement to the committee chaired by Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, argued that denying Adeyemi the opportunity to testify would breach his right to fair hearing, warning that any report produced without his input would be incomplete.
The defence dismissed claims that Adeyemi operated the PFIPC as a lone actor, arguing that ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government handled official processes linked to the council.
The lawyers claimed the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation acknowledged documents relating to the council and facilitated office allocation, while the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria processed administrative matters, including budget codes and operational accounts.
They also alleged that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved the council’s structure and recruitment waivers that enabled the engagement of 314 personnel.
READ ALSO: Reps Panel Declares PFIPC DG’s Appointment Letter Forged
The defence further claimed that security chiefs attended council programmes and that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had official dealings with the organization, including office allocation and other administrative engagements.
Adeyemi’s lawyers argued that the involvement of multiple government institutions showed that responsibility for the controversy should not rest on one individual, calling for a broader investigation into all agencies connected to the council.
The controversy surrounding the PFIPC intensified in July 2026 after the Presidency distanced itself from the organization, stating that it was not an agency created or authorized by the Federal Government.
The House of Representatives subsequently launched a probe into the council’s operations, recruitment process and alleged links with government institutions.
During the investigation in August 2026, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, admitted that her office did not conduct sufficient due diligence before approving recruitment requests associated with the council.
The committee’s inquiry is expected to determine how the PFIPC operated, the extent of institutional involvement and whether administrative failures contributed to the controversy.