Nigerians have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila to resign over the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), that doing so would pave the way for what is described as an impartial investigation into allegations of corruption, abuse of office and the alleged sale of public appointments.
Meanwhile, in a detailed statement released on Tuesday night July 1, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, traced the origin of the case, revealing that the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President first uncovered the alleged scam after complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) that another body was operating as a parallel government agency.
According to the Presidency, the Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police on October 17, 2025, requesting an investigation into what he described as “fraudsters and impostors” forging appointment letters purportedly issued from his office.
The petition alleged that fake appointment letters bearing forged signatures, reference numbers and official seals were used to claim leadership positions in a non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The Presidency said Adeyemi allegedly operated from an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, where he reportedly held meetings with Nigerians and foreign nationals while presenting himself as a government official.
He was also accused of requesting a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate United States visas for members of the purported agency.
Describing the development as a serious threat to the integrity of the Presidency, the Chief of Staff urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those behind the alleged forgery.
The statement said the petition was accompanied by copies of the alleged forged appointment letter, visa-related correspondence and photographs obtained from the fake agency’s website.
It further disclosed that concerns had also been raised within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after Adeyemi reportedly convened a meeting with ambassadors at the Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, on October 10, 2025, without the Ministry’s knowledge.
In a letter dated October 15, 2025, and signed by Ambassador Anderson Madubuike, the ministry sought clarification from both the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Staff on the status of the agency, warning that the meeting violated established diplomatic procedures.
Following the inquiry, the Office of the National Security Adviser wrote to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), which in turn sought clarification from the Chief of Staff.
The Presidency said the Chief of Staff categorically denied issuing any appointment letter to Adeyemi, stressing that the agency did not exist and noting that appointments into federal offices are made through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
In a subsequent letter dated November 5, 2025, the Chief of Staff again disowned both Adeyemi and the purported council, maintaining that neither the individual nor the organisation was known to his office.
The Presidency said police investigations led to Adeyemi’s arrest on October 27, 2025, at the Abuja office from where he allegedly operated the scheme.