Adeyemi Scandal: Nigeria's President Tinubu Orders Probe into Fake Agency

A man claiming to be the director-general of a presidential council that never legally existed—Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew—has sparked a scandal involving an office inside Nigeria's Federal Secretariat, a 1.3 billion naira ($950,000) line item in the 2026 budget, and a president who says the letter creating the agency was forged.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and submit a report within 30 days. The order was his first public comment on the matter.

The Fake Agency That Fooled a Budget

The presidency says the PFIPC never existed. Bayo Onanuga, the president's special adviser on information and strategy, said the federal government never established such an office. Chief of staff Femi Gbajabiamila disowned Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who had been presenting himself as director-general. Gbajabiamila said the government had no such agency and that Tinubu never gave any appointment to Adeyemi.

Investigators confirmed that the agency secured office space in the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. It appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of 1.3 billion naira.

The presidency claims the letter from the chief of staff creating the PFIPC was forged. Police have launched a manhunt for Adeyemi on suspicion of forgery, impersonation, and related offences.

Adeyemi's Defense and Counterclaims

Before going into hiding, Adeyemi told local media he was innocent and feared for his life. He said the council was lawfully established in 2024 to attract foreign investment, though no record of deals exists. He accused senior government officials of demanding bribes during his appointment and later attempting to control the council's funds. The presidency denied those allegations.

In a statement to Vanguard, Adeyemi said he would provide documents to the Department of State Services (DSS) and police. With a manhunt underway and the ICPC investigating, his window for cooperation is narrowing.

Questions Over Financial Oversight

The scandal raises questions about how a fictitious agency secured a budget allocation and office space. The Accountant-General's Office said the PFIPC never had an operational account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, contradicting earlier findings that the agency had opened accounts there. How a phantom agency entered the national budget remains a mystery for the ICPC to solve.

The scandal highlights broader issues of bureaucratic oversight. Understanding the mechanisms that allowed this to happen is crucial for accountability and prevention.

What Happens Next

The ICPC has 30 days to submit a comprehensive report. Police continue the manhunt. Adeyemi has promised to appear in court but remains on the run.

For a government battling perceptions of corruption and inefficiency, this scandal is unwelcome. The investigation's outcome may determine whether it remains a footnote or becomes a larger crisis.