‘If PFIPC is fake, who put it in budget?’ Embattled ‘DG’ fires back

The controversy over the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has taken a fresh turn after its embattled acclaimed Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, questioned how a body the Presidency described as non-existent found its way into the national budget.

Adeyemi said he was ready to cooperate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission after President Bola Tinubu ordered a 30-day probe into the activities of the purported agency.

Speaking during an Instagram interview with social media personality VeryDarkMan, Adeyemi said he would submit documents in his possession to security agencies to assist the investigation.

“I am willing and ready to help security agencies or any panel set up by Mr President to unravel the truth,” he said.

“In fact, any moment from now, I will go to the DSS or the police to submit all the documents I have to help them investigate and look into this matter.”

Adeyemi said investigators should authenticate the documents and determine how the council became linked to government processes.

“They should authenticate them. They should verify them. They should unravel the truth,” he said.

He also questioned the Presidency’s position that the council was fake, saying he did not understand how a non-existent agency could appear in the national budget.

“When the Presidency, through the Chief of Staff, said the agency does not exist, I wondered how an agency that found its way into the national budget could suddenly be described as fake,” he said.

Adeyemi added that he was in detention for 23 days during the period the budget was being prepared and insisted that he neither prepared nor defended any budget.

“I did not prepare or defend any budget, and nobody went to defend it on my behalf. That is why I am confused about how the agency found its way into the national budget,” he said.

On his allegations involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Adeyemi said he would prefer an independent investigation to determine the truth.

“I wouldn’t say he’s lying, and I wouldn’t say he’s telling the truth. That is why I requested that Mr President set up an investigative panel to unravel the truth, so we will know those involved,” he said.

The Presidency has maintained that the Federal Government never established the PFIPC and that the body has no legal backing, presidential approval or lawful instrument.

Tinubu has directed the ICPC to investigate the alleged forged appointment letters, official documents, bank accounts and diplomatic engagements linked to the purported agency.

The ICPC is expected to submit its report within 30 days.