The embattled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, has disclosed that his motivation for establishing the agency was a deep-seated passion for Nigeria and a desire to attract foreign investment.
Speaking in an interview with social media influencer VeryDarKMan (VDM), whose real name is Martins Vincent Otse, Adeyemi explained that his intention was to promote President Bola Tinubu's administration and make Nigeria a preferred destination for foreign investors. The interview was published on Wednesday, July 8, by The Punch.
Adeyemi's Motivation and Defense
“I wanted to bring in foreign investors to Nigeria so that I can write my name in gold. I am just desperate to serve. I just want to do my part for the country,” Adeyemi said during the interview, as quoted by TheCable. He added, “That agency was established to bring in foreign investments to Nigeria and make Nigeria a preferred destination for foreign investors.”
Adeyemi further stated, “I walk around the inter-ministerial agencies and partner with the MDAs and EFCC to make Nigeria a preferred world destination for investments. So, it’s not about personal interest. Before this whole brouhaha, we were expecting the world to be in Nigeria through our forthcoming global summit.”
Background of the Controversy
The PFIPC has been at the center of a major scandal, with questions raised about its legitimacy. President Bola Tinubu ordered a corruption investigation into allegations that the PFIPC, described as a fictitious government agency, was set up within his own office and secured public funding of $950,000 (approximately N1.3 billion). According to the presidency, the letter from the president's chief of staff creating the agency had been forged.
Investigations revealed that the agency had secured office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, opened bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and was allocated N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act. The scandal has led to mounting public pressure from civil society organizations, opposition politicians, and senior lawyers demanding an independent inquiry.
Gbajabiamila's Response
Femi Gbajabiamila, the President's Chief of Staff, has taken a firm stance against Adeyemi. Through his solicitors, Pinheiro LP, Gbajabiamila gave Adeyemi 72 hours to withdraw what he described as false and defamatory allegations made during a widely circulated press conference. Gbajabiamila demanded a public apology, removal of the alleged defamatory publications from all media platforms, and a written undertaking that no further allegations would be made. The demands were contained in a letter by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).
Earlier, a cease-and-desist letter from Gbajabiamila's camp alleged that Adeyemi accused the chief of staff of receiving N400 million through proxies in connection with appointments into the purported fake organization. The letter also claimed that Adeyemi alleged Gbajabiamila abused and exploited his office to intimidate individuals and media organizations.
Impact and Next Steps
The controversy has raised serious accountability questions about the establishment and funding of government agencies. With President Tinubu ordering the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter within 30 days, the public awaits the outcome of the probe. Adeyemi's explanation, while providing insight into his intentions, has not quelled the debate over the agency's legitimacy and the alleged forgery involved.
