‘Presidential promotion council’: How fake agency got smuggled into budget — Adeniyi

The self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeyemi Matthew Adeniyi, has explained how the controversial agency was allegedly included in the Federal Government’s budget despite his arrest before the appropriation process was finalised.

Adeniyi made the claims during an interview with social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, in a recording released after his arrest.

He maintained that the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, played no role in the reported N1.3 billion budget allocation, insisting that he personally lobbied senior officials at the Budget Office to facilitate the agency’s inclusion.

According to him, the process was still incomplete when he was arrested, making it surprising for him to later discover that the agency had appeared in the approved budget.

Adeniyi said he visited the Budget Office in December 2024 to request the inclusion of the agency in the 2025 Appropriation Bill but was informed that the budget process had already closed.

“I went to that Budget Office for the 2025 budget. I submitted the letter and everything that I wanted, but I was told it was already late.

“When the 2025 budget came out and I didn’t see it, they told me it would now be for the 2026 budget. We kept in touch because they said it would be considered later.”

He further alleged that a female official assisted him in gaining access to the office of the Director-General of the Budget Office before he was referred to another director.

“She helped me to see the oga. Oga now said, ‘Where is my shini?’ I said I don’t have any shini. He later asked me to meet one director,” he said.

According to Adeniyi, the director explained that the proposal could no longer be accommodated in the 2025 budget but assured him it would be considered for the 2026 appropriation.

“They were trying for me that maybe they would include it, but unfortunately they said it could not be included in the 2025 budget. They said it would be for 2026,” he stated.

Responding to questions on whether he paid officials at the Budget Office, Adeniyi denied making any cash payments, saying he only promised to assist them with employment opportunities if the agency became operational.

“Honestly, I did not pay any money. I didn’t pay anybody. The only thing I promised was that if I started employing people, I could help them with employment opportunities,” he said.

“That was the favour I promised them. I did not give anybody money. It was just a promise that if they had people, I could employ them later.”

He added that all discussions regarding the proposed agency came to an end after his arrest.

“Immediately, there was a problem, everything stopped. Even the woman that wanted to help was calling because she couldn’t reach me. I told her to let everything stop.

“I didn’t even know until they said it was inside the budget. I had already left the office. Where would I still pursue the budget when I was already facing court?”

When asked whether Budget Office officials could have inserted the agency into the budget after his arrest, Adeniyi said he could not explain how it happened.

“I don’t know because once that problem started, everything stopped. Why would I still pursue the budget when I was already in trouble?” he said.

Addressing allegations that he paid N400 million to secure the appointment, Adeniyi claimed the money was delivered in US dollars through his late associate, Dolapo Tanimola, adding that he could not confirm whether it eventually reached Gbajabiamila.

When asked about the currency used, he replied, “Dollars.” Asked who received the money, he answered, “Dolapo.”

Despite the allegation, Adeniyi insisted he never met the President’s Chief of Staff in person before or after his appointment.

“I never met Gbajabiamila physically before and after he was appointed. Dolapo Tanimola handled everything for me,” he said.