Lawyers representing Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man accused of setting up the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), have accused several federal institutions of recognising and facilitating the council’s activities.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Adeyemi’s legal team questioned why criminal proceedings have focused solely on their client when, according to them, several government agencies dealt officially with the council.
The lawyers argued that institutions such as the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Office of the Accountant-General, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Office of the Head of Service, the Budget Office, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Assembly and key security agencies all interacted with the council over time.
“If these institutions verified documents, processed requests, approved activities and officially engaged with the agency, how can one individual alone be blamed for creating something the government itself appeared to recognise?” the lawyers asked.
They argued that it would have been impossible for a single person to deceive virtually every arm of government without some level of official approval or oversight.
According to them, justice cannot be achieved by prosecuting only their client while ignoring the institutions that allegedly helped establish, fund and recognise the council.
The controversy began in October 2025 after the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force over the alleged creation of the PFIPC, which the Federal Government insists was never legally established.
Following the petition, the police filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two others, accusing them of forgery, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.
The case experienced several adjournments before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Last month, Justice Mohammed Umar issued a warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear for his arraignment.
His lawyer, Genesis Francis, opposed the application, telling the court that his client feared for his safety and had written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu. He said Adeyemi wanted to remain alive to defend himself in court.
Justice Umar responded that the court would ensure his safety before issuing the bench warrant.
Adeyemi was arrested by the police less than 12 hours later and has remained in custody. The case is scheduled to continue on September 30.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has launched a separate investigation into how the council obtained official recognition, office space and budgetary allocations despite concerns about its legal status.
During its latest hearing, the ad hoc committee chaired by Yusuf Gagdi directed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to produce Adeyemi before lawmakers, prompting his lawyers to issue Sunday’s statement.
The defence team argued that official records paint a different picture from the claim that Adeyemi single-handedly created a fake government agency.
They alleged that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation acknowledged official documents linked to the council and facilitated the allocation of office space within the Federal Secretariat.
They also claimed the Office of the Accountant-General and the Central Bank acted on official documents by issuing budget codes, granting the council self-accounting status, posting civil servants to the agency and opening official bank accounts.
According to the lawyers, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service approved the council’s organisational structure and recruitment waivers, allowing it to employ more than 300 staff.
They further alleged that the Budget Office and the National Assembly processed documents that eventually led to the inclusion of a ₦1.302 billion allocation for the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act, which was later signed into law by the President.
The legal team also claimed senior security officials attended events organised by the council, while the EFCC allegedly allocated a property to it, requested ₦300 million in processing fees and even presented an award to its leadership.
The Federal Government, however, maintains that the PFIPC never existed as a legally recognised agency despite operating from the Federal Secretariat, maintaining official bank accounts and obtaining approvals from some government institutions.
Police alleged that forged documents were used to secure official recognition and that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the council’s Director-General. He has denied all the allegations.
A previous investigation by PREMIUM TIMES identified about 12 government agencies whose actions raised questions in the case and suggested that officials within the system may have enabled the alleged fraud. However, police investigations have not linked any serving government official or civil servant to the alleged offences.
Following that report, the House of Representatives opened an investigation into how the council secured a ₦1.302 billion allocation in the 2026 budget despite lacking legal backing.
At its most recent hearing, lawmakers disclosed they had uncovered 29 documents they believed were forged in connection with the council’s operations and directed the police to produce Adeyemi before the committee.
His lawyers insist the matter should not be treated as the actions of one individual alone, arguing that any investigation must also examine the roles played by the government institutions that recognised and worked with the council.
