The self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has rejected claims that he single-handedly created the disputed agency.
Instead, he alleged that several ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government processed, recognised or interacted with the council before the controversy emerged. Adeyemi, who remains in police custody, made the claims in a statement issued on Sunday through his legal defence team and signed by Festus Akhigbe.
He also demanded the opportunity to appear before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the council.
Adeyemi seeks appearance before Reps panel
The legal team argued that its client should testify before the committee chaired by Yusuf Gagdi. According to the lawyers, denying him that opportunity would violate his constitutional right to a fair hearing.
“We formally request that the panel issue the necessary administrative clearance to allow our client, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, to appear in person and testify.”
The lawyers warned that any report produced without hearing from Adeyemi would be incomplete and unfair.
“Any investigative outcome or final legislative report produced without affording our client a direct hearing would be fundamentally flawed, incomplete, and a breach of the constitutional right to a fair hearing (audi alteram partem).”
Defence names government agencies
Adeyemi’s lawyers rejected attempts to portray him as the sole architect of the controversial agency. They argued that several government institutions processed documents linked to the council over an extended period. According to the statement, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation acknowledged documents relating to the council and facilitated office allocation within the Federal Secretariat.
The lawyers also alleged that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria acted on official documentation. They claimed both institutions issued administrative budget codes, granted self-accounting status, posted civil servants to the council and opened operational accounts.
The statement further alleged that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved the council’s organisational structure and granted recruitment waivers for 314 personnel.
‘One person could not mislead government’
The defence team also claimed that heads of security agencies attended programmes organised by the council. It further alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allocated property to the organisation, requested a processing fee and presented a plaque of recognition to its leadership. The lawyers questioned how one individual could have deceived several government institutions without official approval.
“If the SGF, the Accountant-General, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Head of Service, the Budget Office, the EFCC, the National Assembly, and the heads of Nigeria’s primary security architecture all verified, processed, funded, and officially interacted with this agency over an extended period, how can a single citizen, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, be held uniquely responsible?”
They argued that it would have been impossible for one person to mislead every arm of government without institutional support.
Defence alleges scapegoating
Adeyemi’s legal team insisted that its client was being used as a scapegoat to cover up wider institutional failures. The lawyers called for a broader investigation involving civil society groups, legal experts and independent observers. According to them, investigators should examine the complete paper trail across all ministries, departments and agencies linked to the council.
“Justice cannot be served by prosecuting the mouthpiece while ignoring the state machinery that built, budgeted, and bureaucratically birthed the entity.”
They also urged investigators to conduct a comprehensive audit of every government institution connected with the council.
Head of Civil Service admits oversight
The controversy comes as the House of Representatives continues its investigation into the disputed agency. Several heads of government agencies have already appeared before the ad hoc committee. Among them was the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack.
She acknowledged that her office failed to carry out adequate due diligence before approving recruitment requests linked to the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
Read also: PFIPC: Head of Civil Service admits due diligence failed, accepts responsibility
