The Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance (CTAG) has called on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi against the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, while also probing Adeyemi’s claim that he heads the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The group, in a statement signed on Tuesday by its Executive Director, Comrade Sunday Itodo, urged security agencies to determine the authenticity of Adeyemi’s claims following a disclaimer issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff, which stated that no agency known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council exists under the Presidency.

According to CTAG, the Presidency’s disclaimer raises fundamental questions about Adeyemi’s claim to be heading the council and the allegations he has made against Gbajabiamila.

The group said the matter has implications for national security, public trust and the integrity of government institutions, insisting that the DSS and the police should immediately invite Adeyemi for questioning.

“Prince Adeyemi has publicly claimed to be the head of an agency which the Presidency has unequivocally denied knowledge of. This is a grave matter touching on national security, public trust and the integrity of government institutions. The DSS and the Police must immediately invite and investigate him,” the statement said.

CTAG challenged Adeyemi to immediately publish his purported appointment letter as head of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council if, indeed, such an agency exists.

It also questioned Adeyemi’s claim that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved about 300 staff members for the take-off of the agency.

The organisation demanded that Adeyemi disclose the identities of the alleged staff members, where and when their recruitment was advertised, evidence of their appointments, the payroll platform through which they are allegedly being paid, and the source of funds used to remunerate them.
CTAG further queried Adeyemi’s assertion that the agency maintains an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The group urged the apex bank to clarify whether any account exists in the name of the purported agency and, if so, disclose within the limits of the law who authorised its opening, the signatories to the account and the legal instrument establishing it.

The organisation also described as weighty Adeyemi’s allegation that he paid N600 million through a third party to secure the appointment, including an alleged upfront payment of N400 million.
It said such allegations could not be left in the realm of speculation and urged Adeyemi to provide documentary evidence, including bank transfer records, payment receipts, account details, dates of payment and the identities of all intermediaries allegedly involved.

CTAG also asked Adeyemi to substantiate his allegation that Gbajabiamila demanded a percentage of an alleged N24 billion take-off grant purportedly approved for the agency.
“These are criminal allegations. They cannot simply be thrown into the public space without proof,” Itodo said.

The group maintained that while public office holders must always be subjected to scrutiny where credible evidence exists, serious allegations should be supported by verifiable facts and not speculation.

According to CTAG, there has been an increasing trend of using unsubstantiated allegations and media campaigns to blackmail, distract or tarnish the reputations of public officials.
“It is becoming increasingly common for certain individuals and groups to weaponise false allegations and media sensationalism in a desperate bid to blackmail, distract or extort public officials.

“Nigerians are no longer deceived by these antics. Those who specialise in the business of character assassination and blackmail should know that the public is increasingly aware of their methods and will not subscribe to such schemes.

“While no public officer is above scrutiny, allegations must be backed by verifiable evidence. The era of reckless accusations without consequences must come to an end,” the statement added.
CTAG urged the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant agencies to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into all the claims made by Adeyemi.

It said investigators should establish the authenticity of his claim to head the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, verify the allegations made against the Chief of Staff and determine whether any offences relating to impersonation, fraud, false information or criminal defamation may have been committed.

The group stressed that the integrity of the Presidency and public institutions should be protected from abuse while maintaining that anyone found culpable after due investigation should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Prince Adeyemi’s response to CTAG’s latest statement was not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.