Adeyemi point hand at CBN, EFCC, SGF as 'fake agency' investigation continue

Lawyers to Adeniyi Adeyemi, di man wey di Nigeria govment dey accuse say e fake one Federal Agency called Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PFIPC/PEAC), don point accusing fingers at oda govment agencies wey dem claim say also dey complicit for di scandal.

Adeyemi imsef don already chop arrest on 14 July, few hours afta Justice Mohammed Umar of di Federal High Court for Abuja issue bench warrant against am.

However, Festus Akhigbe wey be di defence counsel for Adeyemi, issue ogbonge statement on Sunday, demanding make dem allow im client to personally testify for di ongoing investigative hearing by di House of Representatives.

Akhigbe also point finger at top govment agencies dem, like di Central Bank of Nigeria, di office of di Secretary to di Govment of di Federation (SGF), di Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and odas, as e tok say dia hand also dey for di whole saga.

"Na administrative impossibility for one individual, witout assistance, to mislead every arm of di Federal Government simultaneously witout official, high-level institutional sanction," Akhigbe write.

Di statement continue: "Di Office of di Accountant-General of di Federation and di Central Bank of Nigeria bin act on official documentation to issue administrative budget codes, grant self-accounting status, post federal civil service staff to di council, and officially open operational accounts.

"Di Office of di Head of di Civil Service of di Federation formally approve di establishment structure and grant recruitment waivers to enable di onboarding of 314 personnel.

"Heads of security agencies bin attend programmes wey di council bin organise, and di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bin allocate property to di council, ask dem to pay processing fee and present di leadership (Adeyemi) wit plaque of recognition."

Akhigbe also tok say ogbonge govment agencies like di SGF, di Accountant-General, di CBN, di Head of Service, di Budget Office, di EFCC, di National Assembly, and even di heads of all di security agencies for Nigeria, bin torchlight di PFIPC/PEAC, verify dia activities, process and release funds to dem, and officially interact wit di agency for long period.

So "how can one single citizen, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, be held uniquely responsible for failing to detect wetin di entire apparatus of di State bin don validated?" Akhigbe ask.

"Dem dey make our client a scapegoat to cover up deep-seated institutional lapses, procedural breakdowns and internal approvals inside di government structure," e tok.

Akhigbe tok say if members of di House of Reps conclude dia ongoing investigation witout hearing from Adeyemi who be di main accused pesin, any report wey dem produce go dey "fundamentally flawed, incomplete, and na breach of di constitutional right to fair hearing".

"Justice no fit dey served by prosecuting di mouthpiece and ignore di state machinery wey build, budget, and bureaucratically birth di entity," di lawyer insist.

BBC News Pidgin bin don report how di Head of di Civil Service of di Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, bin appear bifor di House of Reps investigative panel wey di chairman na Yusuf Gagdi of Plateu State.

Walson-Jack admit for dat hearing say dem no do dia due dilligence to torchlight di documents wey Adeyemi bin submit to dem bifor approving di agency.

Also, one director for di office of di Accountant General bin appear for di panel and e also shift di blame to anoda junior officer for not doing im work well.

However, Adeyemi wey suppose appear bifor dat panel bin dey absent, and di Inspector General of Police explain say dem need court order bifor dem go make am available, sake of say di matter don already dey bifor di court.

True-true, di Nigeria Govment don sama wit eight-count corruption charge wey concern forgery and impersonation.

Likewise, di Chief of Staff to di President, Femi Gbajabiamila, don also sama Adeyemi wit five billion naira libel suit, sake of allegations of bribery wey Adeyemi accuse am.

Di FG mata bin come up on 14 July, but Adeyemi no show for court and im lawyer tok say e dey fear for im life. But Justice Mohammed give order make dem arrest Adeyemi and bring am to court for arraignment on 30 September 2026.