The embattled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, has denied ever meeting President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, in person.
Adeyemi made the disclosure during a telephone interview with social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the PFIPC.
According to him, although he spoke on the phone with someone he believed to be the Chief of Staff through his late associate, Dolapo Tanimola, he could not independently confirm the identity of the person.
When asked if he had ever met Gbajabiamila face-to-face, Adeyemi gave a direct response.
“No,” he replied.
He also admitted that it was possible the Chief of Staff had no involvement in the controversy.
When VeryDarkMan suggested that Gbajabiamila might not have been involved at all, Adeyemi responded:
“Of course! Yes.”
Adeyemi further said he could neither accuse Gbajabiamila of lying nor confirm his innocence, insisting that only an independent investigation could reveal the truth.
“I wouldn’t say he is lying and I wouldn’t say he is saying the truth,” he said.
The PFIPC has remained at the centre of public attention after Adeyemi previously alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded 48 per cent of the council’s proposed ₦27.4 billion take-off grant and received ₦400 million linked to appointments within the organisation.
The Chief of Staff has strongly denied the allegations, insisting he has never had any dealings with Adeyemi and has threatened a ₦10 billion defamation lawsuit against him.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the PFIPC controversy and submit its findings within 30 days.
Adeyemi also disclosed during the interview that he intends to surrender himself to either the Nigeria Police Force or the Department of State Services (DSS).
His trial over allegations linked to the operation of the PFIPC is expected to resume at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 14.
