Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew has called for an independent investigation into allegations surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), while levelling a series of accusations against the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Addressing journalists at a press conference on Thursday, Adeyemi said he was compelled to speak publicly because of what he described as "public misrepresentation, institutional denial, and deliberate attempts to silence legitimate questions."
He also acknowledged that June 25 marked Gbajabiamila's birthday, describing the press conference as a "birthday gift" while urging the Chief of Staff to explain what he knows about the PFIPC and PEAC.
The controversy follows a June 11 disclaimer issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff, distancing itself from both bodies. Adeyemi rejected the disclaimer, arguing that it failed to address what he described as fundamental questions regarding the agencies' alleged appearance in official government records.
According to him, if the agencies do not exist as claimed, questions should be asked about how references to them allegedly appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act. He argued that the matter raises concerns about the integrity of Nigeria's budget preparation and approval process, which involves multiple government institutions before legislative approval.
Adeyemi further questioned the administrative procedures that allegedly allowed the agencies to appear in budget documents and claimed that the agencies maintained accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and operated from office space within the Federal Secretariat. He argued that these claims, if accurate, would require explanations from relevant government institutions.
He also denied allegations portraying him as a fraudulent actor, describing such claims as damaging to his reputation. In addition, he alleged that there had been attempts to criminalize his diplomatic engagements, an allegation for which he did not provide documentary evidence during the briefing.
Adeyemi further alleged that his disagreement with the Chief of Staff stemmed from an alleged demand for a share of a take-off grant connected to the agency, as well as payments allegedly made through intermediaries. He did not publicly present documentary evidence to support those allegations during the press conference.
He also raised concerns about the death of an individual he identified as Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as an intermediary, as well as alleged attempts on his life. He called for both matters to be investigated by an independent panel.
Among his demands, Adeyemi urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish an independent investigative committee to examine the issues raised. He said the panel should review budgetary records, question relevant officials, conduct forensic examinations of relevant documents, and publish its findings transparently. He also called for the Chief of Staff to step aside while any investigation is conducted.
The proposed panel, he said, should include representatives from civil society organizations and international bodies to ensure credibility and transparency.
Adeyemi maintained that he was prepared to cooperate with any lawful investigation, insisting that the matter should be resolved through an independent fact-finding process rather than conflicting public statements.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency and the Office of the Chief of Staff had not publicly responded to the allegations made during the press conference.
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