Controversial DG Adeyemi Refute Claims Of Establishing Agency Despite Recognition From Several MDAs

The self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, has pushed back against allegations that he single-handedly created the disputed agency, alleging that several ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government processed, recognised or interacted with the council.

Adeyemi, who is in police custody, made the claims in a statement on Sunday through his legal defense team signed by Festus Akhigbe, while also demanding to appear before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the council.

The legal team argued that its client should be allowed to testify before the committee chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, warning that any report produced without hearing from him would violate his constitutional right to a fair hearing.

“We formally request that the panel issue the necessary administrative clearance to allow our client, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, to appear in person and testify.

“Any investigative outcome or final legislative report produced without affording our client a direct hearing would be fundamentally flawed, incomplete, and a breach of the constitutional right to a fair hearing (audi alteram partem),” the statement read.

Adeyemi’s lawyers rejected what they described as attempts to portray their client as “an isolated, mastermind impostor” who fabricated a government agency without institutional backing.

According to the statement, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation acknowledged documents relating to the council and facilitated office allocation within the Federal Secretariat.

“We, the legal defence team of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, issue this public statement to set the record straight following recent developments, our client’s current police detention, and the ongoing legislative hearings.

“The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Central Bank of Nigeria acted on official documentation to issue administrative budget codes, grant self-accounting status, post federal civil service staff to the council, and officially open operational accounts.