Jul 5, 2026

"DG Adeniyi Bombshell: Crisis Started After I Refused Gbajabiamila's N12.5bn Demand"

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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ABUJA, Nigeria — In a stunning escalation of one of the most bizarre scandals to hit the Tinubu presidency, the self-proclaimed Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi (also referred to as Adeniyi Matthew), has publicly alleged that a crisis erupted after he refused a ₦12.5 billion demand from the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

In a press conference captured on video and widely shared on social media, Adeniyi claimed the alleged bribe request formed the root of his fallout with powerful figures in the presidency.

The revelation adds fresh layers of intrigue to a saga already involving a phantom agency, a ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 budget, forged documents, and multiple opened bank accounts.

According to the Presidency, the PFIPC does not exist. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has described Adeniyi as an impostor who forged appointment letters, operated from the Federal Secretariat, hosted foreign diplomats, and fraudulently secured official recognition.

Police have filed an eight-count charge against him, including forgery and impersonation.

Yet, investigations reveal the “ghost agency” somehow managed to get ₦1.3 billion captured in the 2026 appropriation, open dozens of bank accounts (including with the Central Bank), and interface with National Assembly committees.

Two letters from the Senate and House of Representatives addressed to Adeniyi as DG have surfaced, raising uncomfortable questions about oversight failures.

Adeniyi, who was arrested but later released on bail, maintains his appointment was legitimate and has now gone on the offensive with explosive bribery allegations against Gbajabiamila.

He claims the Chief of Staff demanded a significant cut—reportedly including 48% of the agency’s takeoff grant in some accounts—and that refusal triggered the clampdown.

The scandal has sent shockwaves through Aso Rock. The Presidency has pushed back hard, insisting Adeniyi is a con artist running a sophisticated fraud ring.

However, critics and opposition voices argue the saga exposes deep rot in governance, questioning how a fake entity could embed itself so deeply without high-level complicity.

Former Minister Solomon Dalung and others have called for investigations into top officials, including President Tinubu, the Chief of Staff, SGF, NSA, and security chiefs, to restore public confidence.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also weighed in, demanding accountability.

This controversy arrives at a sensitive time. With economic hardships persisting and the 2027 presidential race already casting long shadows, allegations of this magnitude threaten to further erode trust in the Tinubu government.

Questions linger: How did a fictitious agency secure budget lines and official correspondence? What role, if any, did insiders play? And can the administration transparently resolve the matter without appearing to shield powerful figures?

As Adeniyi’s court case progresses and more details emerge, Nigerians are watching closely.

The saga of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council — whether a masterful lone scam or a symptom of deeper systemic issues — has become a litmus test for transparency and integrity at the highest levels of government.

In the court of public opinion, the damage is already done. Restoring credibility will require more than denials — it will demand rigorous, independent investigation and full disclosure.

For a presidency promising renewed hope, this unfolding drama underscores the steep challenge of rebuilding public faith in Nigeria’s institutions.