MAN IN THE NEWS: Adeniyi Adeyemi, self-styled DG at centre of ‘presidential council’ scandal

Adeniyi Adeyemi has found himself at the centre of one of the most unusual controversies to emerge from the presidency in recent years.

For months, Adeyemi operated as the director-general of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) — an organisation the presidency now says never existed.

Adeyemi has also frequently been photographed alongside prominent figures in Nigeria’s political and public life.

Recent images circulating online show him with Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Older photographs also show him with former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, among other high-profile personalities.

While such appearances do not in themselves establish any official relationship or endorsement, they contributed to the perception that he enjoyed access to influential circles.

The recent controversy escalated after the presidency publicly disowned the council he claimed to be heading, accused Adeyemi of forging official documents and impersonating government officials, and revealed that he is standing trial over multiple criminal charges.

Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing. Instead, he accused senior government officials, including Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, of demanding bribes and attempting to frustrate his activities after he allegedly refused to comply.

The competing claims have turned the case into one of the country’s most talked-about political and legal controversies.

AN OBSCURE GOVERNMENT AGENCY 

Before the controversy became public, the PFIPC projected the image of a legitimate federal institution.

Its social media platforms described the council as a government body established to promote foreign investment and international partnerships for Nigeria.

The organisation organised investment summits, held meetings with diplomats, traditional rulers and government officials, and used federal symbols and branding in its public communications.

According to the presidency, Adeyemi also operated from an office space within the federal secretariat complex in Abuja and opened multiple bank accounts, including one with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The existence of a budgetary allocation linked to the council further fuelled the perception that it enjoyed official recognition.

PRESIDENCY DISOWNS THE COUNCIL

The situation changed on June 11, 2026, when Gbajabiamila issued a public disclaimer stating that no organisation known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council existed.

He also said Adeyemi had never been appointed to head any such body and warned diplomatic missions, financial institutions and members of the public against dealing with him or the organisation.

“It has come to the notice of the Federal Government of Nigeria and specifically the Office of the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR that a certain Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, under the auspices of an alleged organisation styled as the ‘Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council’ is portraying himself to the general public as having been appointed by my office,” Gbajabiamila said.

“The unsuspecting public is hereby advised to note that such an office does not exist under this administration and no appointment has been made in that regard.” (TheCable)