DSS Told to Arrest Popular Prince After Presidency Claim
- CTAG has demanded the immediate investigation of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi for alleged impersonation and misinformation
- The Allegations of a ghost agency and N600 million bribery against Adeyemi raised serious public trust concerns
- Calls for accountability emphasised the need for evidence in public allegations to protect institutional integrity
The Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance (CTAG) has called on 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, cocktail of blackmail and attempts to undermine public institutions."
The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Sunday Itodo, on Tuesday, condemned what it termed the "reckless and scandalous allegations" made by Adeyemi against the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, insisting that such claims must not be allowed to go uninvestigated.
Source: Twitter
Group reacts as Gbajabiamila denies issuing appointment
According to the group in a statement sent to Legit.ng, the categorical disclaimer issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, stating 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 statement said:
"Prince Adeyemi has publicly claimed to be the head of an agency which the Presidency has unequivocally denied knowledge of. This is a grave matter touching on national security, public trust and the integrity of government institutions. The DSS and the Police must immediately invite and investigate him."
CTAG challenged Adeyemi to make public, without delay, his purported appointment letter as Head of the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
Itodo said:
"If indeed such an agency exists and Prince Adeyemi was legitimately appointed to head it, he should publish his appointment letter and disclose the authority under which the appointment was made.
"He further claimed that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved no fewer than 300 staff members for the take-off of the agency. Nigerians deserve to know the identities of these purported staff members.
"We therefore demand that Prince Adeyemi immediately publish the list of the alleged 300 staff, indicate where and when their recruitment was advertised, provide evidence of their appointments, disclose the payroll platform on which they are being remunerated, and state the source of funds used in paying them".
Group questions Adeyemi's assertion
The group also questioned Adeyemi's assertion that the agency maintains an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It said: "If there is indeed a CBN account in the name of this purported agency, Nigerians must know who authorised the opening of such account, who the signatories are, and under what legal instrument the account was created.
"The CBN should equally clarify whether any account exists in the name of the said agency and furnish the public with relevant details within the ambit of the law."
Presidency: Group speaks on bribery allegation
On the allegation that he allegedly paid N600 million to secure the position through a third party allegedly linked to the Chief of Staff, CTAG described the claim as weighty and incapable of being left in the realm of speculation. Itodo wrote:
"Adeyemi has alleged that he paid N600 million to obtain the position, with N400 million allegedly transferred through a third party as upfront. Such an allegation is too serious to be treated casually.
"He must 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 provide incontrovertible evidence supporting his allegation that Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila demanded a percentage of the purported N24 billion take-off grant allegedly approved for the agency.
"These are criminal allegations. They cannot simply be thrown into the public space without proof".
Group warns public office holders
The group maintained 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. The statement reads:
"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.
"Nigerians are no longer deceived by these antics. Those who specialise in the business of character assassination and blackmail should know that the public is increasingly aware of their methods and will not subscribe to such schemes.
"While no public officer is above scrutiny, allegations must be backed by verifiable evidence. The era of reckless accusations without consequences must come to an end".
CTAG therefore urged security agencies to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into all the claims made by Prince Adeyemi and ensure that anyone found culpable of impersonation, fraud, false information or criminal defamation is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
"The integrity of the Presidency and public institutions must be protected from individuals seeking to exploit them for personal gain or notoriety," the statement added.
Source: Twitter
Presidency defends Tinubu on Obi's attacks
Legit.ng earlier reported that the presidency has disclosed that the NDC 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was ignorant about the power-generating capacity of Nigeria.
Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, made the claim while responding to Obi's criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Onanuga, the problem of Nigeria's electricity is not a shortage of gas, while disclosing the actual headache of Tinubu's administration.
Source: Legit.ng
