Nigeria’s Fake Agency Scandal: $950K Fraud Probe Ordered—July 9

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered a corruption investigation into a scheme where a fictitious government agency called the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) was allegedly created within his own office and received 1.3 billion naira ($950,000) in public funding. The man accused of forging documents to establish the agency, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is now in hiding following a police manhunt.

How the fake agency operated

The PFIPC obtained office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria’s government hub, and opened bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The agency appeared in Nigeria’s 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of 1.3 billion naira ($950,000), including 800 million naira for personnel costs and 200 million naira for capital projects. It had a staff of three, all questioned by police. Adeyemi claimed the council was set up in 2024 to attract foreign investment to Nigeria, but there is no record of any deals completed.

The forgery allegations

According to the presidency, the letter from the president’s chief of staff creating the agency had been forged. Police forensic analysis confirmed the signature from Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila was not authentic. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu revealed he received a letter dated May 2, 2025, bearing the presidency letterhead that deceived him into meeting with Adeyemi. Kalu told parliament the letter contained what appeared to be authentic details, including an address at the Federal Secretariat and a government website, pfipc.gov.ng.

Adeyemi’s defense and accusations

Before going into hiding, Adeyemi told local media he was innocent and feared for his life. He promised to appear in court to clear his name, saying the body was lawfully established. Adeyemi accused senior government officials of demanding bribes during his appointment process and later attempting to take control of the council’s funds. The presidency has denied these allegations. In a recent interview, Adeyemi said he did not prepare the agency’s budget because he was in police detention when budget preparations began, arrested on October 27, 2025, and held for 23 days before release on November 19.

Investigation and next steps

President Tinubu on Tuesday directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days. Adeyemi was charged in federal high court in November 2025 with an eight-count charge bordering on forgery and impersonation. The Accountant-General’s Office stated the PFIPC never had an operational account with the central bank and has not received any public funds or salaries, contradicting the budget allocation.

Final Thoughts

The scandal exposes serious gaps in Nigeria’s government security procedures, allowing a forged agency to penetrate the presidency and secure public funding. The 30-day investigation will determine whether officials were complicit or negligent in failing to verify the agency’s legitimacy.

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