Adeyemi’s lawyers detail roles of key federal agencies validating fake PFIPC

President Bola Tinubu's administration has dispatched a prominent delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to Canada for the inaugural Nigeria Diaspora Investment Economic Conference (NIDEC) 2026. The event, set to take place in Toronto from August 12 to 15, aims to attract diaspora investment and enhance economic relations between Nigeria and Canada. The conference, themed “Invest Nigeria, Thrive Abroad,” will convene policymakers, investors, business leaders, and members of the Nigerian diaspora to explore investment prospects in key sectors of the Nigerian economy. The Nigerian government has emphasized the importance of leveraging diaspora resources to stimulate economic growth, attract foreign direct investment, and deepen bilateral trade with Canada. Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), highlighted that the conference represents a high-level, results-driven investment platform intended to convert investor interest into viable projects. She underscored the mutual commitment of Nigeria and Canada to bolster economic cooperation and connect global investors with investment-ready opportunities in Nigeria. The delegation accompanying Gbajabiamila includes several high-ranking officials, such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Additionally, governors from various states, Charles Soludo of Anambra, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, are participating. Representatives from key national agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), and Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), are also expected to attend. Senior Canadian government officials and business stakeholders, including the President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Hon. Shafqat Ali, along with representatives from the Government of Ontario and the City of Brampton, will participate in the conference. Organized in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa and the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, the event is anticipated to serve as a strategic platform linking global investors with investment opportunities in priority sectors of Nigeria’s economy. Separately, legal representatives of Adeniyi Adeyemi, the individual accused of establishing the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), have raised concerns regarding the involvement of multiple federal agencies in validating and supporting the operations of the organization. In a recent statement, Adeyemi’s lawyers questioned why investigators had focused solely on their client, suggesting that numerous federal institutions, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Accountant-General, the CBN, the Head of Service, the Budget Office, the EFCC, the National Assembly, and the heads of Nigeria’s primary security structures, had verified, processed, funded, and officially engaged with the agency over an extended period. The controversy surrounding the PFIPC began in October 2025 when Gbajabiamila petitioned the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Police Force regarding the alleged creation and operation of the council, which the government claimed was never legally established. Following the petition, the police filed eight charges against Adeyemi and two others, accusing them of forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretense. The case faced several adjournments before reaching the Federal High Court in Abuja. Recently, after Adeyemi failed to appear for his arraignment, Judge Mohammed Umar ordered his arrest. His lawyer, Genesis Francis, expressed concerns about his client’s safety and stated that Adeyemi had written an open letter to President Tinubu, expressing a desire to remain alive to face trial. The judge assured the court would assist in ensuring Adeyemi's safety before issuing a bench warrant for his arrest. Less than 12 hours later, Adeyemi was arrested by the police and remains in custody pending further proceedings scheduled for 30 September. In response, the House of Representatives initiated a separate investigation into how the PFIPC obtained official recognition, office space, and budgetary allocations despite doubts about its legal standing. At its latest hearing, the ad hoc committee chaired by Yusuf Gagdi instructed the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to present Adeyemi before lawmakers, prompting the recent statement from his legal team. Adeyemi’s lawyers contended that while the prosecution and public inquiries have painted him as an isolated fraudster who independently fabricated a federal agency, the verifiable administrative footprint of the PFIPC suggests otherwise. They urged investigators to scrutinize the institutional actions that created and validated the council rather than focusing exclusively on Adeyemi. The lawyers pointed out that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) formally recognized documentation and allocated official office space within the Federal Secretariat Complex. They questioned how the central administrative body of the federal government could have acted on these documents if they were indeed forgeries.