Adeniyi Adeyemi says his withdrawal from the public is due to threats to his life rather than an attempt to evade law enforcement agencies.
Adeyemi, who claims to be the ‘director-general’ of the disputed ‘Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC),’ said this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“I’m ready to show my face. I’m not hiding. I’m only fearing for my life because I have it on good authority that my life is in danger,” he said on the current affairs programme, alleging threats to his life.
“There have been several attempts on my life,” Adeyemi said.
READ ALSO: [PFIPC Controversy] FG Files Charges Against Adeyemi
During the interview, he maintained his claim that he gave money to Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, to secure his appointment as the director-general of the council.
When asked how he raised the ₦400 million he claimed was paid through a proxy, Adeyemi said he borrowed it.
“I borrowed the money [₦400 million] for this appointment. In fact, those that I borrowed from have reported to the EFCC,” he said.
He spoke hours after asking President Tinubu to set up an independent panel to probe the matter and said he was “ready” to defend himself.
His remarks came amid the controversy surrounding his allegations that the Chief of Staff received ₦400 million through a proxy and demanded an additional ₦200 million to facilitate his appointment.
A search of the Budget Office’s published 2026 Appropriation Bill under the “Summary by MDAs” lists an entity described as “Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” with code 0111062001 and a total allocation of ₦1.303 billion: ₦802.98 million for personnel, ₦200 million for overhead, and ₦300 million for capital expenditure.
READ ALSO: Presidential Council Scandal: I’m Ready To Face The Law, Clear My Name — Adeyemi
In a strongly worded rebuttal, however, the presidency denied the existence of such a “council”, describing the PFIPC as fictitious.
“We are aware of the public interest in the matter of a man called Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, who has been parading himself as the director-general of a fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said.
He said concerns about the alleged council first emerged in October 2025 after the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission complained that another body appeared to be operating at cross-purposes with it.
Onanuga said the Chief of Staff subsequently petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force over what he described as forged appointment letters and the activities of individuals allegedly impersonating government officials.
Following the controversy, Gbajabiamila threatened legal action against Adeyemi, while President Tinubu ordered an investigation into the matter.
Adeyemi, however, said he was prepared to defend himself in court.
“If I’m wrong, let the court of law do that, and if I’m right, let the court of law do that; do the right thing,” he said during another edition of Politics Today.
