Fresh documents have shed light on how the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) allegedly functioned within Nigeria’s federal bureaucracy before authorities declared the agency unauthorised and launched a criminal investigation into its operations.

The correspondence, involving several key government institutions, suggests that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) processed official requests from the council, apparently believing it was a legitimate government agency operating under the Presidency.

The controversy centres on Adeniyi Adeyemi, who identified himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC. The Presidency has accused him of forging official government documents, including appointment letters, State House letterheads and approval documents to legitimise the council’s activities.

Adeyemi has denied the allegations, insisting he acted lawfully and pledging to defend himself in court.

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The controversy first came under official scrutiny in October 2025 after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested clarification from the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser regarding Adeyemi’s status.

The inquiry followed a meeting Adeyemi reportedly held with members of the diplomatic community without involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Responding on October 27, 2025, Gbajabiamila informed the ministry that the PFIPC was not a recognised government agency and advised ministries and agencies to verify any future correspondence purportedly issued from his office before acting on it.

The Chief of Staff subsequently petitioned the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the matter.

According to available documents, Adeyemi’s claim to office was based on an appointment letter dated March 8, 2024, which purportedly conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of his appointment as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, effective from March 1, 2024.

The letter appeared on State House letterhead and carried a signature above Gbajabiamila’s name. However, the Chief of Staff has denied issuing or signing the document.

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Documents further indicated that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation wrote to the Central Bank of Nigeria on July 29, 2025, requesting the opening of domiciliary accounts for two government agencies, including the PFIPC.

The CBN reportedly confirmed on August 13, 2025, that dollar and pound sterling accounts had been opened for the council under the name “Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council World Investment Summit.”

Earlier in January 2025, Adeyemi had written to the Accountant-General requesting self-accounting status for the council, stating that it had already been assigned an Administrative Code Number within the National Chart of Accounts.

Following subsequent exchanges, the Office of the Accountant-General granted the agency provisional self-accounting status for six months beginning May 27, 2025.

Records also showed that Adeyemi sought office accommodation from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in November 2024.

The request was reportedly forwarded alongside similar applications from other ministries and agencies to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for consideration in the allocation of recovered government properties.

Court documents later indicated that the PFIPC eventually operated from the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.

By April 2025, Adeyemi requested the deployment of accounting and audit personnel to the agency, and records indicated that three officials from the Office of the Accountant-General were subsequently assigned to the council in August 2025.

In another official communication dated September 1, 2025, Adeyemi reportedly requested a Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate visa applications for members of a delegation travelling to the United States for the African Economic Global Convergence Summit.

Authorities have not confirmed whether that request was processed.

Police investigations into the alleged forgery commenced on October 23, 2025, before Adeyemi was arrested four days later at the Federal Secretariat office from which he allegedly operated.

The Federal Government has since filed an eight-count criminal charge against him at the Federal High Court, where proceedings are scheduled to begin on July 27.

The case continues to raise questions about administrative oversight and verification procedures within key government institutions that processed documents associated with the disputed agency before its legitimacy was challenged.