Presidential council claimant calls for an independent investigation, while the Presidency maintains he forged documents and headed a non-existent agency

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who describes himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, has renewed allegations against Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, calling on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate what he described as contradictions surrounding the existence of the councils and their inclusion in the 2026 federal budget.

Also read: EXPOSED: Council disowned by Gbajabiamila appears in 2026 budget with N1.3bn allocation

Addressing journalists in Abuja on June 25, Adeyemi rejected what he described as attempts to portray him as an impostor and insisted that questions surrounding the councils should be resolved through an independent investigation rather than public denials.

The press conference followed a June 11 disclaimer issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff, which distanced the Presidency from the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

Adeyemi argued that the controversy had moved beyond personalities and now centred on governance, accountability and the integrity of official government processes.

He questioned how the Presidential Economic Advisory Council appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act if, as the Presidency has maintained, the body does not exist.

“Let the investigation speak. Let the documents speak. Let the truth emerge,” Adeyemi said.

Adeyemi claimed that references to the council in the national budget raised questions about the budget preparation process, noting that appropriation documents pass through several stages of executive and legislative scrutiny before receiving presidential assent.

He also alleged that accounts linked to the councils had been opened with the Central Bank of Nigeria and questioned how such processes could have been completed if the entities were fictitious.

Among his most serious allegations, Adeyemi accused Gbajabiamila of demanding money in connection with his alleged appointment and claimed the Chief of Staff sought a percentage of a proposed take-off grant for the agency. He did not provide documentary evidence during the press conference to substantiate the allegations.

He called on the President to establish an independent investigative panel to examine budgetary records, official communications and other documents relating to the councils.

Adeyemi also urged investigators to examine the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom he described as an intermediary, investigate alleged attempts on his life and subject official documents signed by the Chief of Staff to forensic examination.

He said he was prepared to cooperate fully with any lawful investigation.

“I remain willing to cooperate fully with any lawful inquiry. I will not accept being silenced or discredited,” he said.

The latest remarks come amid an escalating dispute between Adeyemi and the Presidency.

On Wednesday, the Presidency, through Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Adeyemi’s claims and maintained that he had fraudulently presented himself as the head of a non-existent government agency.

According to the Presidency, investigations involving the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Nigeria Police Force concluded that Adeyemi was never appointed by President Tinubu or any authorised government institution.

The Presidency further alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment documents, falsely represented himself as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and used the documents in dealings with public institutions.

It also disclosed that Adeyemi is facing criminal charges filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations including forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence. The matter remains pending before the court.

Separately, budget documents reviewed by several media organisations show that the 2026 Appropriation Act contains allocations exceeding ₦1.3 billion for an entity identified as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, while historical payment records indicate that funds were released to a council bearing the same name between 2021 and 2022 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Presidency has not publicly explained the inclusion of the council in the budget beyond maintaining that the agency cited by Adeyemi has no legal existence.

The allegations made by Adeyemi have not been tested in court, and Gbajabiamila has not publicly responded to the latest claims beyond the Presidency’s earlier statement denying any official relationship with Adeyemi or the councils he claims to head.

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The dispute continues to generate public interest because it raises broader questions about public records, budgetary documentation and the ongoing criminal proceedings, which are expected to provide further legal scrutiny of the competing claims.