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The Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance (CTAG) has urged the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant anti-corruption agencies to immediately arrest and investigate one Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi over what it described as “a dangerous pattern of impersonation, misinformation, a cocktail of blackmail and attempts to undermine public institutions.”

The group made the call in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Sunday Itodo and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Wednesday.

The group condemned what it called “reckless and scandalous allegations” made by Adeyemi against the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, saying such allegations must not go uninvestigated.
The group said the categorical disclaimer issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President that no agency known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council exists under the Presidency, raises serious questions about the authenticity of Adeyemi’s claims and activities.

The group said: “Prince Adeyemi has publicly claimed to be the head of an agency which the Presidency has unequivocally denied knowledge of. This is a matter of gravity involving national security, public confidence and the integrity of government institutions. The DSS and the police must invite him for investigation immediately,”.

CTAG challenged Adeyemi to make public his purported appointment letter as Head of the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council without delay.

“If such an agency exists and Prince Adeyemi was legitimately appointed to head such an agency, he should produce his appointment letter and the authority under which such appointment was made to the public.

He also said that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved not less than 300 staff members for the take-off of the agency. Nigerians have a right to know the identities of these purported staff members.

Therefore, we are demanding that Prince Adeyemi should immediately publish the list of the said 300 staff, indicate where and when their recruitment was advertised, provide evidence of their appointments, disclose the platform on which they are being paid and state the source of funds being used in paying them,” Itodo said.

The group also challenged Adeyemi’s claim that the agency has an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adding that “if there is such a CBN account in the name of this purported agency, Nigerians must know who authorised the opening of such an account, who the signatories are, and under what legal instrument the account was created.

“The CBN should also clarify if any account exists in the name of the said agency and provide the public with relevant information within the ambit of the law.”
The Special Adviser on Media to the President of the Senate, Mr. Olumide Lawal, described the allegation as weighty and one that cannot be left in the realm of speculation.

Adeyemi has claimed to have paid N600 million to buy the position with N400 million allegedly transferred through a third party as upfront. The charge is too grave to be dismissed lightly.

He should immediately provide documentary evidence of the transactions including bank transfer records, payment receipts, account details, dates of payment, identities of intermediaries involved and any communication establishing the alleged arrangement.

“He must also furnish incontrovertible evidence in support of his allegation that Femi Gbajabiamila demanded a percentage of the purported N24 billion take-off grant allegedly approved for the agency.”

“these are criminal allegations,” the group insisted. They cannot be dumped in the public square without proof.”

The group insisted that public office holders must be held accountable where evidence exists but stressed that unfounded allegations, blackmail and deliberate attempts to tarnish reputations for pecuniary or other ulterior motives should be firmly resisted.

“It is becoming increasingly common for certain individuals and groups to weaponise false allegations and media sensationalism in a desperate bid to blackmail, distract or extort public officials,” Itodo said.

“Nigerians are no longer buying these antics. Those in the business of character assassination and blackmail ought to know that the public is waking up to their methods and will not buy into such schemes.

“While no public officer is above scrutiny, allegations must be supported by verifiable evidence. The time of reckless accusations with no consequences must end,” the statement said.

CTAG, therefore, called on all security agencies to carry out a comprehensive and transparent investigation into all the allegations by Prince Adeyemi and ensure that anybody found guilty of impersonation, fraud, false information or criminal defamation is prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“The integrity of the Presidency and other public institutions must be protected from individuals seeking to exploit them for personal gain or notoriety,” the statement said.