PFIPC saga; Presidency’s fraud claims false, Adeyemi insists

Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has denied allegations of fraud and document forgery, insisting that the courts should determine the legality of the disputed agency and his appointment.

Speaking on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adeyemi rejected accusations by the Presidency that he fraudulently presented himself as the head of a non-existent government agency.

“I’m not a con artiste. Let the court decide on the matter,” Adeyemi said, maintaining that he had acted in good faith and that the controversy should be resolved through legal channels.

His comments come amid claims by the Presidency that he forged official documents, including an appointment letter, to portray himself as the head of the PFIPC, an agency it insists was never established by the Federal Government.

Questioning the Presidency’s position, Adeyemi argued that he could not have carried out official engagements across the country if the council did not exist.

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“Let’s assume the agency does not exist. Would I have the temerity to be going all over the country meeting the heads of agencies and departments if they know that the agency does not exist or, as alleged, that I cooked everything?” he asked.

He further claimed that his meetings with senior government officials, ambassadors and other key stakeholders lend credibility to his assertion that the PFIPC is a legitimate entity.

According to him, the level of access and recognition he has received from top public officials would not have been possible if the agency were entirely fictitious.

The Presidency, however, has maintained its position that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council has no legal backing, stressing that it was never created by any executive order, law or other official government instrument.

Officials have also alleged that Adeyemi forged government documents in a bid to legitimise his claim to the office, an allegation he continues to deny.

Addressing suggestions that his appointment was a political reward, Adeyemi acknowledged that he is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State but dismissed claims that his position was linked to political patronage.

“I’m a member of APC from Oyo State. I wouldn’t say the position is a reward,” he said.

The dispute over the PFIPC has generated public attention following the Presidency’s insistence that no such agency exists within the structure of the Federal Government, while Adeyemi continues to defend both the council’s existence and the legitimacy of his appointment, saying the courts should have the final say on the matter.