A self-proclaimed Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, has claimed he personally lobbied officials at Nigeria’s Budget Office to include the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 federal budget, despite his arrest before the process was completed.
In an interview released after his arrest, Adeyemi said he began efforts in December 2024 but was told the 2025 budget cycle had closed. He alleged that officials suggested the proposal could be considered for 2026. He denied paying bribes, stating he only promised potential employment opportunities if the agency became operational.
Adeyemi also claimed he never met the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and insisted the official had no role in the N1.3 billion allocation linked to the agency. However, he alleged that funds were sent through an intermediary, now deceased, though he could not confirm who received them.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has opened an investigation into the legality and funding of the PFIPC. Testimonies from key institutions, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), distanced both bodies from the agency’s creation.
The Head of Service, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, told lawmakers that her office rejected PFIPC’s request for structural approval in 2025 due to incomplete documentation. She also denied deploying staff or allocating office space to the council.
A CBN representative confirmed that two foreign currency accounts were opened for the agency in 2025 following a directive from the Accountant-General’s office but said the accounts were never activated and remain unused.
The House committee, led by Abdulmalik Danga, has requested full financial records and is examining whether due process was followed in listing the agency in the national budget.
Separately, Gbajabiamila has appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), confirming his cooperation with an investigation ordered by President Bola Tinubu into the alleged fake agency.
Lawmakers say the probe aims to establish facts around PFIPC’s existence, funding, and legal status amid growing public concern.
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