By Peace Erewunmi

The self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, has claimed that he did not act alone in the operations of the disputed agency, alleging that several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government processed, recognised or interacted with the organisation.

Adeyemi, who is currently in police custody over allegations of forgery, impersonation and operating a non-existent government agency, made the claims through a statement issued by his legal team. He insisted that the PFIPC engaged with multiple government institutions and argued that he was being unfairly portrayed as solely responsible for the controversy.

According to his lawyers, Adeyemi has requested permission to appear before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the fake agency scandal. They argued that denying him the opportunity to testify would amount to a breach of his constitutional right to a fair hearing and could undermine the credibility of the committee’s findings.

The legal team further maintained that their client was not the only individual involved in the activities of the disputed council, urging investigators to examine the roles played by public institutions and officials that allegedly interacted with the organisation. However, the statement did not provide evidence that those agencies knowingly recognised the council as a legitimate government body.

The Presidency has consistently maintained that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council does not exist as a recognised federal agency. Earlier, the State House described appointment letters, official documents and seals linked to the council as forged, while law enforcement agencies commenced investigations that led to Adeyemi’s arrest and prosecution.

The House of Representatives and relevant security agencies are continuing investigations into the matter, with the outcome expected to determine the extent of any institutional involvement and establish accountability where necessary.