Former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Joe Abah, has called for a thorough explanation of the circumstances surrounding the Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi controversy, arguing that key questions remain unanswered despite claims that the matter was merely a scam.
In a detailed public statement, Abah said that while many serving government officials have privately described the case as fraudulent, none has been able to satisfactorily explain how the alleged scheme operated within multiple layers of the federal system.
According to him, several aspects of the case appear inconsistent with standard government procedures.
Abah questioned the authenticity of the alleged appointment process, noting that appointment letters for directors-general are typically signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) rather than the Chief of Staff to the President, raising questions about the document reportedly linked to Adeyemi.
He also queried how office space was allegedly allocated within the Federal Secretariat, arguing that such approvals would ordinarily require authorization from officials senior to a director-general.
The former public service reform chief further asked who allegedly requested any take-off grant for the agency, how it secured a place in the federal budget, and who represented or defended its budget estimates before the National Assembly during the appropriation process.
Abah also raised concerns about personnel matters, asking whether Adeyemi received a government salary, who processed any such payments, and who allegedly approved the recruitment of about 300 staff members.
He questioned the reported opening of bank accounts for the agency at the Central Bank of Nigeria, arguing that such actions would ordinarily require formal government authorization rather than a request from the agency itself.
According to Abah, the cumulative questions suggest either an exceptionally sophisticated fraud or significant failures across multiple government institutions responsible for oversight and administrative control.
He said discussions with government officials on the matter often end without clear answers, adding that the silence surrounding the controversy raises concerns about the integrity of Nigeria's public administration system.
Abah concluded by expressing hope that ongoing investigations would provide clarity, stressing that resolving the outstanding questions is essential to strengthening public confidence in government institutions.
The Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi case has continued to attract widespread public attention following the Presidency's denial that he was officially appointed, while investigations into the operations of the agency linked to him remain ongoing. Authorities have yet to release a comprehensive account addressing the issues raised by Abah and other commentators.
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