A fresh development has emerged in the ongoing trial surrounding the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has reportedly withdrawn from representing the self-acclaimed Director-General of the disputed council, Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Although there has been no official public statement from Falana or his chambers confirming the reported withdrawal, multiple reports indicate that the senior lawyer was absent from recent court proceedings involving Adeyemi. Sources familiar with the matter alleged that the decision followed difficulties encountered in obtaining credible documentation and verifiable evidence required to build a legal defence for the defendant.
Adeyemi is currently facing prosecution over allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation, and fraud in connection with the operations of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has consistently maintained was never established or recognised by the Federal Government. Authorities have accused him of presenting forged presidential appointment documents and other official correspondence to create the impression that the council was a legitimate government institution.
The controversy intensified after Adeyemi made a series of allegations against the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, claims that were strongly denied by the Presidency. Government officials insisted that investigations by relevant agencies found no evidence supporting Adeyemi's assertions and reaffirmed that the PFIPC had no legal backing or official recognition.
Falana had earlier taken interest in the matter, publicly condemning the reported arrest of Adeyemi's father by police officers, describing the action as unconstitutional and contrary to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Nigeria Police Act. He also called for a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the wider issues surrounding the PFIPC controversy.
However, reports now suggest that the relationship between the senior lawyer and Adeyemi may have broken down after repeated concerns over the availability of documentary evidence needed for the defence. The reports further claimed that Falana did not appear during a recent hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Adeyemi also failed to appear for arraignment.
Following Adeyemi's absence, the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest after the prosecution informed the judge that the defendant had repeatedly failed to honour previous court dates. The court subsequently adjourned the matter to September 30, 2026, for further proceedings.
Despite widespread reports of Falana's withdrawal, neither the senior advocate nor his legal chambers has officially confirmed or denied the development as of the time of filing this report. Consequently, the reported withdrawal remains unconfirmed by the lawyer himself, even though it has been widely circulated by several media platforms.
The PFIPC controversy continues to generate national attention, raising broader questions about institutional oversight, document verification within government agencies, and the circumstances that enabled the disputed council to operate while presenting itself as a federal institution. As the legal proceedings continue, Nigerians are expected to closely monitor the outcome of the case and any official clarification regarding Falana's reported exit from Adeyemi's defence team.
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