The controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has taken a new turn following the emergence of an official document indicating that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) approved a foreign trip for the council’s alleged Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, despite the Presidency’s insistence that the agency never existed.
The document, which has surfaced amid the ongoing dispute, shows that the Permanent Secretary in the Political and Economic Affairs Office of the OSGF, Engr. Nadungu Gagare, authorised Adeyemi to join Nigeria’s delegation to the Canada-Africa Fintech Summit (CAFS) held from August 3 to 8, 2025.
According to the letter, Adeyemi was instructed to register for the summit and coordinate the participation of other stakeholders, with the event described as an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s digital finance sector, attract foreign investment and deepen bilateral economic relations.
The latest revelation appears to contradict the Presidency’s earlier position that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as Director-General of the PFIPC using forged appointment documents.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had maintained that the council did not exist and disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been directed to investigate those who allegedly aided Adeyemi’s activities within government.
The fresh development has intensified the controversy involving Adeyemi and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, after Adeyemi recently accused the presidential aide of demanding financial inducements in connection with his purported appointment.
Reacting to the unfolding controversy, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on President Bola Tinubu to institute an independent forensic investigation into the matter, arguing that the Presidency must account for how an individual it now describes as an impostor was able to operate within government circles.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the opposition party questioned how Adeyemi allegedly secured office space, government personnel, official bank accounts and interactions with federal agencies if the council had no legal existence.
The PDP said the Presidency’s explanation had raised more questions than answers, insisting that Nigerians deserved clarity on who authorised Adeyemi’s activities and whether public resources were committed to the alleged council.
The party further urged the President to suspend any officials linked to the matter pending the outcome of an independent investigation, review administrative procedures within the Presidency and provide a full explanation to the public.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also weighed in on the controversy, describing it as part of what he called a recurring pattern of governance failures under the current administration.
In a statement issued through his media office, Atiku argued that public scandals had become increasingly frequent, citing previous controversies involving public procurement, appointments and government spending.
According to the ADC presidential candidate, repeated allegations of administrative failures and the absence of publicly released investigative reports on major controversies have continued to erode public confidence in government institutions.
The PFIPC controversy remains the subject of ongoing investigations, with security agencies yet to conclude their inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Adeyemi’s alleged appointment and activities.
