Nigeria's president demands to know how fake agency was allegedly set up in his office

Checks by BBC News Pidgin showed the agency had secured office space within the Federal Secretariat - the vast government complex that houses many of Nigeria's ministries in the capital Abuja - opened bank accounts with the Nigeria" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="161189" data-entity-type="organization">Central Bank of Nigeria, and appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of 1.3bn naira ($950,000; £700,000).The presidency claimed police forensic analysis had confirmed that the signature from the president's chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on the disputed appointment letter had been forged.According to the charges filed before the Abuja" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="161190" data-entity-type="organization">Federal High Court in Abuja, Adeyemi and two other defendants are accused of using forged official documents to establish and operate the purported council, opening multiple bank accounts in its name and seeking official recognition for an agency the government maintains does not exist.Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate various allegations including:Forged appointment letters and official government documents;Use of false claims to seek official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation;Opening of multiple bank accounts using allegedly forged documents andThe role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution or intermediary that may have facilitated the alleged scheme.The president also ordered investigators to examine the wider circumstances that enabled an allegedly fictitious body to acquire the appearance of official legitimacy, and to identify weaknesses in government procedures that were alleged to have been exploited.The scandal has prompted mounting public pressure from civil society organisations, opposition politicians and senior lawyers who have demanded an independent inquiry.Tinubu said the integrity of the presidency and federal institutions "must be protected against Impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service".