The self-proclaimed head of a disputed Nigerian government investment body has denied allegations that he single-handedly created the agency, claiming that multiple top-level ministries and security agencies officially recognized and funded the council.
Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is currently in police custody, spoke out on Sunday through a statement issued by his legal team, demanding the right to appear before a parliamentary committee investigating the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
Adeyemi’s lawyers warned that any final legislative report produced without hearing directly from their client would violate his constitutional right to a fair hearing.
“We formally request that the panel issue the necessary administrative clearance to allow our client to appear in person and testify,” the legal team said, arguing that Adeyemi is being made a “scapegoat to cover up deep-seated institutional lapses.”
Institutional backing alleged
Rejecting claims that Adeyemi was an “isolated, mastermind impostor”, the defence team listed several key government institutions that they claim validated, funded, and interacted with the council over an extended period:
- Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF): Acknowledged documentation and facilitated office space within the Federal Secretariat.
- Accountant-General & Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN): Issued administrative budget codes, granted self-accounting status, posted civil service staff, and opened operational accounts.
- Head of the Civil Service of the Federation: Formally approved the establishment structure and granted recruitment waivers to onboard 314 personnel.
- Anti-Corruption & Security Bodies: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allocated property to the council, collected processing fees, and presented a recognition plaque, while heads of primary security agencies attended its events.
“If the entire apparatus of the state verified, processed, funded, and officially interacted with this agency over an extended period, how can a single citizen be held uniquely responsible for failing to detect what the entire state validated?” the statement questioned.
The defence team called for a broader, independent audit involving civil society and legal experts to review the full paper trail across all involved ministries.
The parliamentary ad hoc committee investigation remains ongoing, with senior officials—including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation—recently admitting to lawmakers that adequate due diligence was not conducted before processing requests tied to the council.
Add Comment