Presidential Council scandal: ‘I’m ready to face the law’ — Adeyemi

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Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has declared that he is ready to defend himself in court amid allegations by the Presidency that he forged official documents and impersonated a government official.

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Adeyemi made the declaration during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, as the controversy surrounding the existence of the council and his appointment continued to deepen.

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Asked whether he was prepared to face prosecution, Adeyemi said, “Definitely, sir. If I’m wrong, let the court of law do that, and if I’m right, let the court of law do that; do the right thing.”

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He rejected allegations by the Presidency that he is a con artist, insisting that the matter should be resolved through the courts.

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“Since the matter is in the court, let the court of competent jurisdiction vindicate me because I’m ready to clear my name,” he said.

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“Let the court take its course. Since my lawyers are involved, everybody will follow us. They will monitor the whole thing. Then let the court of competent jurisdiction do what they need to.”

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When questioned about the source of funds for the salaries of staff under the council, Adeyemi declined to provide details, saying, “The truth will be unravelled at the court of law.”

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The controversy intensified after the Presidency publicly disowned the organisation Adeyemi claimed to head. Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, described the council as fictitious and accused Adeyemi of operating a scheme built on fraudulent claims.

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“We are aware of the public interest in the matter of a man called Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, who has been parading himself as the director-general of a fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council,” Onanuga said in a statement.

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He added that Adeyemi “appears to have built a web of false claims to deceive unsuspecting government officials and the public.”

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Adeyemi, however, maintained that he was lawfully appointed and alleged that the dispute stemmed from his refusal to comply with demands allegedly made by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. He claimed the Chief of Staff sought 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant and denied any wrongdoing.

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He also called on President Bola Tinubu to constitute an independent investigative panel to examine the allegations surrounding the council.

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Meanwhile, the Presidency said police investigations found that Adeyemi used forged documents to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account in the name of the council and subsequently charged him and two others before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge bordering on forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

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According to Onanuga, Adeyemi is expected to appear in court on July 27 to answer the charges.

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