PFIPC scandal: I spoke with Gbaja through late Tanimola, says Adeniyi

Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has claimed that his only communication with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, was through his late associate, Dolapo Tanimola. Adeyemi made the claim on Tuesday during an interview with social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known […]

Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has claimed that his only communication with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, was through his late associate, Dolapo Tanimola.

Adeyemi made the claim on Tuesday during an interview with social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), amid the lingering controversy surrounding the alleged “phantom” council.

According to him, he never met Gbajabiamila physically either before or after his purported appointment as director-general of the PFIPC.

“I think three times I have spoken with Gbajabiamila, through my late friend, Dolapo Tanimola,” Adeyemi said.

Asked whether the conversations were held via video call, he replied: “No, it was not on video call.”

The Presidency had in June disowned the PFIPC, insisting that no such organisation exists under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Gbajabiamila had also issued a statement distancing both himself and the Presidency from Adeyemi, maintaining that neither his office nor the federal government appointed him to any position in the purported organisation.

However, at a press conference on June 26, Adeyemi challenged the disclaimer issued by the Chief of Staff on June 11, questioning its authenticity and calling for an independent investigation into the matter.

Speaking during the interview, Adeyemi said he could neither accuse Gbajabiamila of lying nor confirm that he was telling the truth, insisting that only an impartial probe could establish the facts.

“I would not say he is lying, and I won’t say he is saying the truth. That is why, during my press conference, I pleaded with Mr President to set up an investigative panel to look into this whole issue and unravel the truth to know who is involved,” he said.

The latest remarks come a day after Gbajabiamila threatened to file a N10 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi over allegations linking him to bribery and the murder of Tanimola.

The dispute has continued to generate public attention following the Presidency’s insistence that the PFIPC has no legal backing or recognition under the current administration.

President Bola Tinubu has given the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) 30 days to probe the controversy.