…warns against politicising investigations

By Adeola Badru

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and security expert, Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has said only due process and thorough investigations by relevant authorities can establish the truth in the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), warning Nigerians against politicising the matter or making statements capable of prejudicing ongoing investigations.

Mumuni, in a statement issued on Saturday through his media aide, Rasheed Abubakar, said the conflicting claims over the purported appointment of Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew as Director-General of the council should be resolved through lawful investigations rather than public speculation or political campaigns.

He stressed that allegations implicating the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, lacked constitutional and administrative foundation, noting that the office does not possess the legal authority to issue or originate appointments of the nature being claimed.

“In the interest of our great country, Nigeria, I wish to reflect on the recent claims made by Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew concerning his appointment letter and the alleged involvement of the Chief of Staff to the President,” Mumuni said.

“The assertion that an appointment letter of this nature was initiated by the Chief of Staff to the President lacks institutional coherence.“

“The Chief of Staff does not possess the constitutional or administrative authority to initiate or issue such appointment letters. This responsibility falls within clearly defined governmental channels and specific constitutional bodies.”

He maintained that while every allegation deserved proper scrutiny, public opinion should not replace lawful investigation, adding that claims of such significance must be supported by verifiable evidence before they are accepted as fact.

The controversy centred on Adeyemi’s insistence that he was legitimately appointed to head the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has consistently maintained does not exist under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has alleged that Adeyemi forged a presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by Gbajabiamila, established a fictitious government agency and operated bank accounts in the names of non-existent government institutions.

According to the Presidency, Gbajabiamila petitioned security agencies in October 2025 over what it described as an elaborate forgery and impersonation scheme, leading to criminal charges against Adeyemi and two others. Adeyemi has denied the allegations and insists that both his appointment and the council are genuine.

Mumuni warned that attempts to exploit the controversy for political advantage could erode confidence in public institutions and prejudice the work of investigators.

“As investigations proceed through appropriate security agencies and institutional bodies, we must exercise restraint in our public discourse,” he said.

He urged political actors, commentators and members of the public to avoid inflammatory statements capable of influencing public perception before the conclusion of official investigations, saying the rule of law must remain paramount.

The APC chieftain also called on members of the legal profession and other influential public figures to uphold professional ethics by avoiding speculative comments that could compromise the integrity of the investigative process.

“Legal experts and luminaries in our society must maintain professional decorum throughout this process. Unsubstantiated public statements, particularly from those in the legal profession, risk contaminating investigative proceedings and undermining the integrity of institutions tasked with establishing the truth,” he stated.

Mumuni said Nigeria’s democratic institutions would be strengthened only when investigations are allowed to proceed without political interference or public pressure, expressing confidence that the truth would ultimately emerge through due process.

“We must allow proper channels to function without interference. Truth will emerge through diligent investigation, not through public speculation or partisan positioning. Nigeria’s institutions deserve this respect,” he added.