Akinwole Okenile, a human rights lawyer, has called for greater transparency and an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), saying the controversy raises broader questions about institutional accountability and government oversight.
Okenile made the call in a public statement, arguing that while the ongoing criminal proceedings against Adeniyi Adeyemi will determine the defendant’s legal responsibility, the matter also presents an opportunity to examine the effectiveness of public institutions in preventing alleged abuse of government processes.
The Federal Government has charged Adeyemi with offences including alleged forgery, impersonation and related crimes. The defendant has, however, denied the allegations and maintained that he would establish his innocence before the court. The case is currently before the court.
According to Okenile, the criminal trial should not overshadow what he described as legitimate public concerns over how an alleged non-existent government body was able to gain public attention before authorities intervened.
He said that if the Presidency’s position is that the PFIPC never existed as an official government agency, Nigerians deserve an explanation about how an alleged fictitious body was able to circulate official-looking documents and allegedly carry out activities that attracted national attention.
