Adeniyi Adeyemi: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu orders investigation into agency accused of wrongdoing
Nigeria’s president has ordered a corruption investigation into allegations that a bogus government agency was set up within his office, complete with public funding worth $950,000 (£700,000).
According to the Office of the President, a letter from the chief of staff of the president who forms the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has been falsified.
The police have launched a manhunt for Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who identified himself as the “director general of PFIPC”, for alleged fraud, impersonation and related offences.
Before going into hiding, Adeyemi told local media that he is innocent and now fears for his life.
He also promised that he will appear in court to clear his name, saying that the body was established legally. He accused senior government officials of seeking bribes during his employment and later tried to control the council’s finances. The president’s office denied those allegations.
Adeyemi said the council was established in 2024 to attract foreign investors to Nigeria but there is no record of any agreements being made.
It has three employees, who have been questioned by the police.
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) to investigate and submit a full report within 30 days.
Checks by BBC News Pidgin show that the organization secured office space within the Federal Secretariat – Nigeria’s multi-departmental government complex in the capital Abuja – opened bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of 1.3bn naira ($950,00000; £070).
The Office of the President said that the police investigation confirmed that the signature of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, in the controversial letter of his appointment was forged.
According to the charges filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Adeyemi and two other defendants are accused of using forged legal documents to establish and operate the council, opening several bank accounts in their name and seeking legal recognition of the agency which the government maintains does not exist.
Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate various allegations including:
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Forged appointment letters and official government documents;
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Use of false claims to seek official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa processing;
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Opening of multiple bank accounts using allegedly forged documents and
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The role of any government official, private individual, financial institution or intermediary who may have facilitated the alleged scheme.
The president also ordered investigators to examine the broad circumstances that led to the alleged mastermind organization gaining legitimacy, and to find weaknesses in government procedures that were allegedly exploited.
The scandal has led to increased public pressure from civil society groups, opposition politicians and senior lawyers who want an independent investigation.
Tinubu said the integrity of the presidency and government institutions “must be protected from impersonation, fraud, exploitation of legal identity and exploitation of weaknesses in public service”.
“All persons found guilty must be dealt with strictly in accordance with the applicable law,” reads the president’s statement.
Additional reporting by Adesola Abisoye in Lagos
