The Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance (CTAG) has called on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and other anti-corruption agencies to immediately arrest and investigate Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi over alleged impersonation, dissemination of false information, blackmail, and attempts to undermine public institutions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Sunday Itodo, the group described as “reckless and scandalous” the allegations made by Adeyemi against the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, insisting that the claims should not be left without thorough investigation.
CTAG said the disclaimer issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff, which stated that no agency known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) exists under the Presidency, raises serious concerns about the authenticity of Adeyemi’s claims and activities.
According to the group, Adeyemi’s public claim that he heads the purported agency is a matter of national security and public trust that requires immediate attention from security agencies.
The organisation challenged Adeyemi to publicly produce his appointment letter as head of the alleged agency and identify the authority that appointed him.
CTAG also questioned Adeyemi’s claim that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved about 300 staff members for the agency’s take-off, demanding that he publish the identities of the alleged employees, details of their recruitment process, evidence of their appointments, their payroll platform, and the source of funds used to pay their salaries.
The group further called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to clarify whether any account exists in the name of the purported agency, following Adeyemi’s claim that PFIPC maintains an account with the apex bank.
On Adeyemi’s allegation that he paid N600 million through a third party to secure the position, CTAG described the claim as too weighty to remain unverified.
It urged him to provide documentary evidence, including bank transfer records, payment receipts, account details, dates of payment, identities of intermediaries, and other communications supporting the alleged transactions.
The group also demanded proof of Adeyemi’s allegation that the Chief of Staff requested a percentage of a purported N24 billion take-off grant allegedly approved for the agency.
While stressing that public office holders should be held accountable where credible evidence exists, CTAG warned against the use of unsubstantiated allegations and media campaigns to blackmail or tarnish the reputation of public officials.
It maintained that allegations of corruption and misconduct must be supported by verifiable evidence and called for consequences against individuals found to have made false claims.
CTAG therefore urged security agencies to carry out a comprehensive and transparent investigation into all the allegations made by Adeyemi and ensure that anyone found culpable of impersonation, fraud, dissemination of false information, or criminal defamation is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The integrity of the Presidency and public institutions must be protected from individuals seeking to exploit them for personal gain or notoriety,” the statement added.
