A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, has called on the federal government to order a forensic investigation into the controversy surrounding the alleged non-existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). The faction also urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend government officials linked to the scandal, particularly his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and issue an unreserved apology to Nigerians.
Faction Calls for Immediate Action
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction demanded that President Tinubu order a forensic investigation by a reputable international firm. Ememobong said: “We therefore call on the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to immediately order a forensic investigation of this scandal by a reputable firm of international standing, announce the suspension of all key officials connected to the matter, order a comprehensive reorganisation of the Presidency, and issue an unreserved apology to Nigerians for this deeply embarrassing situation.”
Background of the Controversy
The controversy erupted after Adeniyi Adeyemi was declared wanted for allegedly presenting himself as the Director-General of an agency the Presidency insists does not exist. The Presidency accused Adeyemi of forging government appointment letters and other official documents to falsely claim appointments as Director-General of the PFIPC and the Presidential Executive Advisory Council (PEAC). Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga stated last Wednesday that the police had arraigned Adeyemi and two others before the Federal High Court on eight counts, with the case filed on 27 November 2025 and scheduled for hearing on 27 July.
Gbajabiamila’s Petition
Onanuga revealed that concerns about the fake agency first arose after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) complained that another body appeared to be performing similar functions. He said Gbajabiamila petitioned the State Security Service (SSS, also called DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force on 17 October 2025, requesting an investigation into Adeyemi and his associates. The petition alleged that appointment letters purportedly issued from Gbajabiamila’s office bore falsified signatures, seals, and reference numbers used to claim appointments into non-existent government entities.
Adeyemi’s Denial
Adeyemi, who has since gone into hiding, told PREMIUM TIMES that he did not forge any appointment letters. He alleged that the government’s claims were a defensive move to silence him and maintained that the agency was established in 2024. He also expressed fear for his life, saying he was in danger.
PDP Faction’s Analysis
Ememobong argued that an independent investigation would reveal serious institutional weaknesses if the Presidency’s account is correct, or deep-rooted corruption if Adeyemi’s claims prove true. He stated: “The two possible outcomes of this scandal are very damning. If the Presidency’s account is correct, that Prince Matthew (Adeyemi) is an impostor, then it means the federal government is so porous and vulnerable – an admission that the country has been brazenly defrauded because institutional gatekeepers entrusted with protecting our collective patrimony are either grossly incompetent or thoroughly distracted from the responsibilities of governance. If, on the other hand, Prince Matthew’s account is accurate, that the Chief of Staff solicited and actually received bribes to facilitate his appointment, then this is yet another act of shameless corruption added to a long and growing queue of unchallenged corrupt officials in this administration. Anyway, this pendulum swings, the Nigerian people lose.”
Demand for Suspension and Reforms
The PDP faction maintained that officials implicated in the controversy should be suspended to allow for an independent investigation and prevent interference. The statement said: “Any responsible government confronted with this scale of institutional breakdown would immediately commission an independent forensic investigation, suspend the key officials implicated, implement systemic reforms to prevent a recurrence, issue an unreserved public apology, and consider the resignation of those found culpable. Instead, the APC-led Federal Government appears to be pursuing a covert internal review, dismissing legitimate public concerns by talking down to the citizens, and hoping that the passage of time will erase the anomaly from public memory.”
