Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man accused of forging government appointment letters and posing as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), says his life is in danger.
On June 11, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the PFIPC did not exist under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Adeyemi rejected that claim and asked the President to set up an independent panel to investigate. Checks also showed the council received N1.3 billion in the 2026 budget, while Adeyemi reportedly operated from an office at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
Adeyemi alleged the dispute started after he refused to hand over 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant. He also claimed he paid N400 million for his appointment and still owed N200 million. The Presidency cleared Gbajabiamila of any wrongdoing.
In a statement on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga described Adeyemi as a “con artist” and said security agencies had investigated him. He added that Adeyemi and two others were facing eight charges at the Federal High Court in a case filed on November 27, 2025, with hearing fixed for July 27. The Presidency did not respond to the bribery claims against Gbajabiamila.
Speaking with Premium Times on Thursday, Adeyemi denied any wrongdoing and said the government was using a “defence mechanism” against him.
“You know the government we have. They are just playing a defence mechanism to shut me up. My organisation was set up in 2024,” he said.
He also claimed the Presidency wanted to silence him.
“They are now after my life. I have gone into hiding. I’m underground,” he said.
“I don’t consider myself safe,” he added.
Meanwhile, The Cable reported that the federal government approved a waiver in August 2025 allowing the PFIPC to recruit 300 workers despite the recruitment embargo. In a letter dated August 7, 2025, Mimi Abu said approval covered several positions and stated: “This approval is based on and limited to the 2025 Approved Establishment position of the Agency, which covers the proposed recruitment,” before directing the council to meet all recruitment rules.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticised the Presidency’s response, saying Onanuga’s explanation raised more questions than answers. He argued that while the Presidency said the PFIPC never existed, public records reportedly showed N1.3 billion was allocated to the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
