Police File Eight-count Criminal Charge against Convener of ‘Presidential Promotion Council’

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has filed an eight-count criminal charge against Adeniyi Adeyemi, convener of a purported presidential foreign intervention promotion council, over the controversy trailing the agency.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said the charges were filed by the police on November 27, 2025 against Adeyemi and two accomplices at the federal high court in Abuja.

Onanuga said Adeyemi is expected to appear in court on July 27, 2026.

Onanuga said Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, had alerted the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in October 2025 following complaints that the purported agency was operating alongside the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

Onanuga added that Gbajabimila told security agencies that forged appointment letters bearing his signature, reference numbers and official seals were being used to legitimise the fictitious agency.

Onanuga relayed that the police arrested Adeyemi in Abuja on October 27, 2025, and recovered forged documents during searches of his office and residence.

“Based on their investigations, the police filed an eight-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja against Adeyemi and two of his accomplices on November 27, 2025. He is due in court on July 27,” Onanuga said.

“Adeyemi was on police bail when he recently claimed that the Chief of Staff had appointed him as DG of the fictitious agency.”

TWIST IN A TALE

The presidential spokesperson had also shared that Adeyemi told the police that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola assisted him in procuring the fake appointment letter.

“Following his claim, the police went after the said Tanimola. The Police found that Tanimola died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Abuja on 22 October, five days before Adeyemi’s arrest,” Onanuga said.

“Tanimola’s body was seen by the police at the morgue, confirming the death.

“The police were able to establish that the agency Adeyemi purportedly headed was fictitious, that he forged his appointment letter and the documents recovered in his office and home, that he falsely paraded himself as a government appointee, and that he falsely solicited a note verbale from the Foreign Affairs Ministry to enable him and his staff to obtain US visas.”

In June 11, Gbajabimila, in a statement, said the purported presidential foreign intervention promotion council does not exist under the current administration.

The chief of staff denied that his office appointed an individual named Adeniyi Adeyemi for the organisation.

Adeyemi had challenged the statement released by Gbajabimila on June 11.

He questioned how the purported agency allegedly appeared in the 2026 budget if, as maintained by the presidency, the body does not exist.

A review of the 2026 Appropriation Act indicates that the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council is expressly listed under the presidency, with a total budget of N1,302,978,784.

The allocation includes N802,978,783 for personnel costs, N200,000,001 for overhead expenditure and N300,000,000 for capital projects.