SGF Office Acted on Correspondence from Fake Agency's Director-General

‘The vision of the PFIPC is that Nigeria shall become world's preferred investment destination while its mission is to identify, promote and facilitate the exploitation of opportunities for private sector investments that will create jobs for, and promote prosperity and the well-being of the People of Nigeria.’

Documents exclusively obtained by Saturday PUNCH have cast fresh doubt on the Presidency's insistence that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council never existed.

The documents reveal that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation received, acknowledged and acted on correspondence submitted in the council's name months before the Presidency publicly disowned it.

Specifically, the SGF's office formally processed and forwarded a request by the council's self-styled Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, seeking office accommodation from recovered Federal Government properties through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, signed the SGF's acknowledgement of the request on November 12, 2024.

The correspondence, dated November 21, 2024, was attached to a forwarding letter, titled ‘Request for Office Accommodation,' which informed the EFCC that three government institutions had applied for office accommodation from recovered Federal Government properties.

The letter specifically identified one of the requests as Ref. No. SH/DG/PFIPC/RQ/107, dated November 7, 2024, submitted by the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

The request listed the Director-General as Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, and described the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council as a Federal Government investment promotion agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment into Nigeria.

According to the letter, the PFIPC 'serves as the resource and coordinating centre for the Nation's Foreign Investment Promotion activities – a One-Stop-Shop for Investments centre coordinating investment-related activities across ministries, departments and agencies and promoting Nigeria as a preferred investment destination.'

It further stated that the PFIPC 'facilitates the interaction between public and private sectors, and has an active role in policy advocacy and promotes a positive image of Nigeria as a country that is attractive to foreign investors.'

The letter added that the council 'liaises with all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to develop, compile and collate data and information, serving as the repository of information on investment opportunities in Nigeria.'

It further stated that 'as a one-stop investment centre, it coordinates all actions to ensure that investors, both potential and existing, receive the best possible support from the MDAs.'

Adeyemi wrote, 'The Prescription Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) attracts and maximises the flow of foreign direct investments into Nigeria, and encourages existing foreign investors to further expand and develop their businesses.'

The documents have surfaced amid the criminal prosecution of Adeyemi, who is accused of operating a fictitious government agency, forging a presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and falsely presenting himself as Director-General of the PFIPC.

It was also alleged that he operated 34 bank accounts, including some opened in the names of purported government agencies, and conducted official engagements, including a meeting with diplomats at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja, under the banner of the council.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, maintained that the PFIPC was fictitious.

According to the statement titled, ‘Re: The Matter of Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and the Fictitious Presidential Economic Advisory Council,’ the Presidency outlined the criminal case against Adeyemi, including the police investigation report, the charges filed against him and what it described as his long history of fraudulent conduct.

The Federal Government has listed the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and 10 others as witnesses in the criminal case against Adeyemi.

A copy of the charge sheet, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, was obtained by our correspondent.

The FG's listing of the Chief of Staff and 10 others as witnesses suggests that the Government may consider presenting Adeyemi's alleged fraudulent activities as part of a larger scheme involving high-ranking officials.

The listing of such high-ranking officials as witnesses could indicate that the Government is considering bringing the Chief of Staff or other government officials into the case.

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, was arrested in February 2026 for operating a fictitious government agency.

The case highlights the need for the Government to ensure that those responsible for managing public funds and resources are held accountable for their actions.

The listing of the Chief of Staff and 10 others as witnesses in the case against Adeyemi suggests that the Government may be considering expanding the investigation into higher levels of the Presidency.

The alleged activities of Adeyemi and others suggest that the Government may have a larger problem with corruption and mismanagement at higher levels.

The case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in Government, and the need for those responsible for managing public funds and resources to be held accountable for their actions.

The alleged activities of Adeyemi and others suggest that the Government may need to take a closer look at its current systems and processes for managing public funds and resources.

The listing of the Chief of Staff and 10 others as witnesses in the case against Adeyemi suggests that the Government may be considering bringing in external experts to help with the investigation.

The case highlights the need for the Government to ensure that those responsible for managing public funds and resources are held accountable for their actions.

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, was accused of operating a fictitious government agency and forging a presidential appointment letter.

Adeyemi was arrested in February 2026 and charged with various counts of fraud and forgery.

The case has sparked widespread outrage and concern about the lack of accountability and transparency in Government.

The listing of the Chief of Staff and 10 others as witnesses in the case against Adeyemi suggests that the Government may be considering bringing in external experts to help with the investigation.

The alleged activities of Adeyemi and others suggest that the Government may need to take a closer look at its current systems and processes for managing public funds and resources.

The case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in Government, and the need for those responsible for managing public funds and resources to be held accountable for their actions.