Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the illegal Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has denied ever meeting President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, amid the scandal surrounding the fictitious agency. Speaking from hiding in an interview with activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkBlackMan (VDM), on TikTok, Adeyemi said he could not categorically confirm or deny Gbajabiamila’s involvement in the PFIPC scandal.
Adeyemi Admits Limited Contact Through Deceased Friend
Adeyemi stated that he never had a one-on-one meeting with Gbajabiamila regarding the PFIPC. He admitted to only speaking with Gbajabiamila about three times over the phone, through his late friend, Dolapo Tanimola. When VDM questioned the authenticity of the calls, suggesting possible impersonation, Adeyemi confirmed that the conversations were not via video call. “How are you sure it was Gbaja? Did you speak to him on a video call? Anybody could have collected that phone,” VDM asked. Adeyemi replied that it was not a video call. He also confirmed that “every transaction that was done was through your friend and that your friend is late.”
Ambiguity Over Gbajabiamila’s Knowledge
When pressed on whether Gbajabiamila could be unaware of the fraud, Adeyemi said, “I wouldn’t say he is lying, and I wouldn’t say he is saying the truth.” He added, “If the Chief of Staff is coming to say he is not the one, it is possible (that he is not). In Nigeria, anything can happen.” Adeyemi explained that this ambiguity is why he urged President Tinubu to order an investigation into the PFIPC scandal. He also promised to turn himself in to the police or the Department of State Services (DSS) after the interview.
Background: Senate Distances Itself from ₦1.3 Billion Budget for Fake Agency
The PFIPC scandal involves a ₦1.3 billion budget controversy over a non-existent council. The Nigerian Senate has distanced itself from the matter. Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu clarified that legislators are not responsible for checks on government appointees. The National Assembly will not intervene in the agency director-general dispute, which is currently before the courts.
Arewa Youths Praise Gbajabiamila’s Whistleblowing Role
Earlier, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) commended the State House for exonerating Gbajabiamila from the PFIPC allegations. Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu praised Gbajabiamila’s whistleblowing role in exposing the forgery scam in the fictitious PFIPC. The AYCF urged politicians to avoid politicising the ongoing legal case against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.
