PFIPC director explains 2026 budget inclusion, denies bribery

Prince Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has detailed how his agency secured a N1.3 billion allocation in Nigeria's 2026 budget. Adeyemi, who was arrested before the budget process concluded, explained that he personally approached senior officials at the Budget Office to advocate for the PFIPC's inclusion.

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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.

In a social media recording, Adeyemi stated that he visited the Budget Office in December 2024 seeking inclusion in the 2025 budget but was informed it was too late. He was then told the agency would be considered for the 2026 budget. Adeyemi recounted that a female official facilitated his access to the Director-General of the Budget Office, who then referred him to another director. This director confirmed that the proposal could not be accommodated in the 2025 budget but assured him it would be considered for 2026.

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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.

Adeyemi denied paying any money to Budget Office officials, instead claiming he promised them future employment opportunities if the agency began hiring. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the PFIPC saga has summoned the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Both entities testified and distanced themselves from the creation and operation of the PFIPC.

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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.