The profile of Prince Adeniyi Mathew Adeyemi, the self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has suffered a massive blow following an outright denunciation by the family of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi.
The royal family has completely dismantled claims that the embattled fraud suspect belongs to the Oyo royal lineage or ever resided within the ancient palace walls.
Speaking on the development, Prince Tunde Adeyemi, the eldest son of the immediate past Alaafin, stated unequivocally that the suspect is an impostor leveraging the prestigious royal name for criminal leverage.
Bounced at the gate: Royal family exposes suspect’s past palace hustle
According to the Oyo princes, the suspect’s only documented connection to the palace was an unsuccessful attempt to infiltrate the monarch’s inner circle years before his multi-billion-naira federal budget scam unravelled.
No Lineage Ties: Prince Tunde confirmed that a thorough review of the royal family tree yielded no link whatsoever to the suspect. “The Mathew man never grew up or stayed in the palace,” he clarified.
The 2017 Incident: After consulting with his younger brother, federal lawmaker Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, Prince Tunde revealed that the suspect had attempted to sneak into the palace nearly a decade ago. “The man once visited the palace sometime in 2017 or 2018 to see Baba [the late Alaafin], but he was completely blocked and did not get access,” he said.
Palace sources indicate that security guards and administrative aides had flagged the suspect during that visit due to suspicious credentials and posturing, preventing him from gaining a royal audience or photo opportunities that could be used to validate his claims.
Fraud trial intensifies as federal prosecutors list heavy-hitting witnesses
The royal disclaimer adds to the mounting legal woes facing the Ogbomoso-born suspect, whose elaborate “ghost agency” managed to suspiciously secure a N1.3bn allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act before it was flagged.
Adeyemi is currently facing a high-profile criminal trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The federal government’s prosecution strategy signals that it intends to make an example of the PFIPC promoters, having already lined up top-tier state officials to testify.
The prosecution has officially listed the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, among its star witnesses to testify on how presidential signatures, seals, and appointment letters were forged to give the fake council a veneer of legitimacy.
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