…Oyo Police confirms FCID handled operation
…Residents recount dramatic arrest in Ogbomoso
…OAGF insists no CBN account was activated, no public funds released
By Frontline Reporters
The controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) took a fresh turn on Monday as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested the father of the embattled self-acclaimed Director-General of the council, Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, along with a family friend, during an operation in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
The arrests came amid an expanding investigation into allegations that Adeyemi fraudulently operated a non-existent presidential agency using forged government documents. The operation also coincided with a clarification by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) that the controversial council never operated a functional account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and did not receive any public funds, despite a budgetary allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Falana Condemns Arrest of Suspect’s Father
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), disclosed the arrest during a telephone interview with journalists, describing the action as unlawful and contrary to established legal principles.
According to him, police operatives stormed the family residence located at Plot 3, Adeniyi Dynasty, behind the Technical College in the Road Safety area of Ogbomoso, where they arrested Adeyemi’s father and a family friend who was visiting the residence.
“There is no legal basis for substituted arrests,” Falana said.
“The young man has promised to appear before the court. Why then should his father be arrested?”
Residents Confirm Police Operation
Residents of the neighbourhood corroborated the incident, saying police officers arrived in four vehicles before taking the elderly man into custody.
One resident, who requested anonymity, said the officers prevented neighbours from intervening.
“They came in four vehicles, harassed the family and eventually took the father away. They didn’t allow anyone to interfere, and there is still a security operative patrolling the area,” the resident said.
Another witness said Adeyemi’s father was arrested alongside a visitor, while his mother was left traumatised.
“Baba was taken away with someone who came to visit them this morning. His wife was left in shock, but neighbours have since moved her to a safer place,” the resident added.
Oyo Police Refer Enquiries to Force Headquarters
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Force Headquarters, Abuja.
“The case involving Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew is of national interest and is currently under investigation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department,” he said.
“As such, enquiries concerning the reported arrest of his parents or any other aspect of the investigation should be directed to the Force Public Relations Officer or the FCID Public Relations Office in Abuja.”
OAGF: PFIPC Never Operated a CBN Account
Meanwhile, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has dismissed claims that the disputed PFIPC successfully opened and operated an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The clarification contradicts widespread public assumptions following an earlier statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who said police investigators discovered that Adeyemi used forged documents to fraudulently initiate the opening of a CBN account.
Speaking on behalf of the OAGF, Director of Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, explained that although an application to open an account was initiated after Adeyemi presented what appeared to be an appointment letter, the process was never completed because the names of authorised signatories were not submitted.
“The account never became operational. It has not received one kobo because the activation process was never concluded,” Mokwa said.
“The Accountant-General has not released any funds because there was no operational account into which such payments could be made.”
He stressed that while the council appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act, inclusion in the federal budget does not automatically entitle any agency to receive public funds.
No Salaries Paid, No Staff Legally Recruited
Mokwa also dismissed allegations that salaries had been paid to workers of the council, explaining that no federal agency can recruit staff or process salaries without obtaining approvals from the Federal Character Commission, the Budget Office and the Federal Civil Service Commission before employees are enrolled on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
According to him, none of those statutory requirements was fulfilled by the PFIPC.
He further disclosed that no staff were recruited by Adeyemi apart from officials temporarily deployed from the OAGF, adding that those officers are now expected to serve as prosecution witnesses.
Alleged Forgery Trial Continues
Adeyemi is currently standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences arising from his claim to have been appointed Director-General of the PFIPC.
The Presidency has consistently maintained that the council was never legally established under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and has warned Nigerians against dealing with individuals claiming to represent it.
According to government officials, the controversy began in October 2025 after the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) alerted authorities that the purported council was performing functions already assigned to the commission.
The Office of the Chief of Staff to the President subsequently petitioned security agencies over alleged forged appointment letters and other official presidential documents, leading to investigations and the recovery of several incriminating materials.
Budget Allocation Raises Fresh Questions
Despite the Presidency’s insistence that the PFIPC is fictitious, the council was allocated ₦1.302 billion in the 2026 Federal Budget, comprising ₦802.98 million for personnel, ₦200 million for overhead costs and ₦300 million for capital expenditure.
The budgetary provision has fuelled public controversy, with opposition leaders, legal practitioners and civil society organisations questioning how a body declared non-existent by the Presidency found its way into the national budget.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and several civil society groups have called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the allocation, arguing that the incident exposes serious lapses in Nigeria’s budgeting and public administration processes.
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2026-07-06