Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew has challenged the disclaimer issued by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), insisting that references to the agency in the 2026 Appropriation Act support his claim that it exists.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Adeyemi rejected attempts to dismiss the controversy through official denials, arguing that the matter raises serious questions about governance, accountability and the integrity of Nigeria’s budgetary process.
The dispute follows a June 11 disclaimer by Gbajabiamila distancing the Presidency from PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), which he reportedly described as non-existent entities.
Addressing journalists, Adeyemi said the inclusion of PFIPC in the 2026 national budget made the denial difficult to reconcile with official records.
“Let’s assume for one second that all what the Chief of Staff published were right, that the agency does not exist. Then how did the agency’s name get into the 2026 appropriation budget pages 50 and 51?” he asked.
According to him, the presence of the agency in the budget raises questions about the processes through which government documents are prepared, reviewed and approved.
“The national budget does not emerge in isolation. It passes through multiple layers of technical drafting, executive coordination, ministerial inputs, budget office review, and finally legislative scrutiny by both chambers of the National Assembly,” he said.
Adeyemi argued that if the agency was indeed non-existent, authorities would need to explain how references to it appeared in official government documents.
“So the question becomes unavoidable: at what point in this process did references to a non-existent agency allegedly enter the official record?” he queried.
The businessman also questioned reports that the agency allegedly operated with official office space, approved personnel and banking arrangements, saying such developments would be difficult to achieve without government knowledge.
“These are not trivial matters but questions at the sensitivity of governance, accountability and public trust,” he said.
Adeyemi further alleged that he had been unfairly portrayed in the controversy and claimed there were efforts to undermine his reputation.
He maintained that any allegations against him should be subjected to independent scrutiny.
He also made a series of allegations against the Chief of Staff, including claims relating to the agency’s establishment and funding. However, no evidence was presented during the briefing to substantiate the claims, and they have not been independently verified.
Calling for transparency, Adeyemi urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish an independent investigative panel to examine the controversy and determine the facts.
“I remain willing to cooperate fully with any lawful inquiry. I will not accept being silenced or discredited. Let the investigation speak. Let the documents speak. Let the truth emerge,” he said.
He proposed that the panel should review budgetary references, examine institutional records, question relevant officials and publish its findings publicly.
Adeyemi also called for investigations into the death of an associate, alleged attempts on his life and other issues he claimed were connected to the dispute.
The controversy has drawn public attention because of its implications for government accountability and the management of public institutions. As of press time, neither the Office of the Chief of Staff nor the Presidency had issued a response to the specific allegations raised by Adeyemi at the press conference.
The claims and counterclaims remain unverified, with observers calling for an independent review of the documents and records cited by both sides to establish the facts.
