The Presidency is facing renewed public attention following the prosecution of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who has been charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja with eight counts bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has said the Presidency has no constitutional authority to exonerate anyone connected to the matter. He also called for an independent investigation involving both the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Prince Adeyemi.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, Adeyemi allegedly operated a fictitious government agency known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, forged a presidential appointment letter bearing the purported signature of the Chief of Staff, and maintained 34 bank accounts in the names of non-existent government agencies.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency outlined details of the police investigation and the charges filed against Adeyemi. It also warned politicians against using the case to attack the Chief of Staff.
The Presidency said Adeyemi was arrested on October 27, 2025, at his office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja after a petition submitted by the Chief of Staff to the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police.
Police subsequently filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two other suspects, identified only as Femi and Anu, who remain at large. The charges include conspiracy, forgery of presidential appointment documents, forgery of State House letterheads, impersonation, and the use of forged official correspondence to give legitimacy to the alleged fictitious organisation.
One of the charges alleges that Adeyemi forged an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by the Chief of Staff. Another count accuses him of falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of the alleged agency.
The Presidency further stated that while on police bail, Adeyemi resurfaced with another claim that he had been appointed Director-General of the same organisation. According to the statement, the claim contradicted an earlier statement he made to police and prompted a public disclaimer from the Chief of Staff on June 8, 2026.
The case is scheduled to return to court on July 27, 2026.
According to the Presidency, the investigation began after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission raised concerns about another organisation carrying out similar activities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reportedly sought clarification after Adeyemi hosted foreign ambassadors at an event in Abuja without notifying or engaging the ministry.
