The embattled Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Prince Adeyemi Matthew Adeniyi, has claimed that he personally lobbied officials of the Budget Office to secure the inclusion of the controversial agency in the 2026 Federal Government budget.
Adeniyi made the allegations during an interview with social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, in an Instagram video released on Sunday following his arrest.
The agency, whose authenticity is under investigation, was controversially allocated about ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
During the interview, Adeniyi denied that the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, played any role in the budgetary allocation, insisting that he had never met him in person.
According to Adeniyi, he first approached the Budget Office in December 2024 to seek the agency’s inclusion in the 2025 budget but was informed that the appropriation process had already been concluded.
“I went to the Budget Office for the 2025 budget. I submitted my letter and everything I wanted, but I was told it was already late,” he said.
He claimed officials later advised him that his proposal would instead be considered during preparations for the 2026 budget.
“When the 2025 budget came out and I didn’t see it, those people I met said it would now be for the 2026 budget. We kept in touch because they said it would be considered later,” he added.
Adeniyi further alleged that a female official facilitated a meeting with the Director-General of the Budget Office, who subsequently referred him to another senior official.
“She helped me to see the oga. Oga now said, ‘Where is my shini?’ I said I don’t have any shini. He later asked me to meet one director,” he claimed.
According to him, the director explained that the proposal could no longer be accommodated in the 2025 budget but assured him efforts would continue ahead of the 2026 appropriation process.
“They were trying for me, but unfortunately they said it could not be included in the 2025 budget. They said it would be for 2026,” he said.
Responding to questions about whether he paid any official to facilitate the process, Adeniyi denied offering bribes.
“Honestly, I did not pay any money. I didn’t pay anybody. The only thing I promised was that if I started employing people, I could help them with employment opportunities.
“That was the favour I promised them. I did not give anybody money. It was just a promise that if they had people, I could employ them.”
Adeniyi claimed the process came to a halt following his arrest and said he was surprised to later discover that the agency had been included in the 2026 budget.
“Immediately there was a problem, everything stopped. Even the woman that wanted to help was calling because she couldn’t reach me. I told her to let everything stop.
“I didn’t even know until they said it was inside the budget. I had already left the office. Where would I still pursue the budget again when I was already facing court?”
Asked whether Budget Office officials may have inserted the agency into the budget after his arrest, he said he had no explanation.
“I don’t know because once that problem started, everything stopped. Why would I still pursue the budget when I was already in trouble?” he said.
Adeniyi also addressed allegations that he paid ₦400 million to secure his purported appointment, claiming the money was delivered in United States dollars through his late associate, Dolapo Tanimola.
When asked in what currency the payment was made, he replied: “Dollars.”
Asked who received the funds, he responded: “Dolapo.”
Despite the allegations, Adeniyi maintained that he never had any direct contact with Gbajabiamila.
“I never met Gbajabiamila physically before or after he was appointed. Dolapo Tanimola handled everything for me,” he said.
In the caption accompanying the interview, VeryDarkMan called for a thorough investigation into the Budget Office and other government institutions, arguing that Adeniyi should not be the only person held accountable if the allegations are substantiated.
