How a fake presidential council ended up with a budget of almost $1m in Nigeria

3 articles

2 sources

0% diversity

Updated 11.7.2026

Key Topics & People

Femi Gbajabiamila *Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) Nigeria Abuja

Coverage Framing

Political Strategy(3)

Avg Factuality:80%

Avg Sensationalism:Moderate

Story Timeline

Jul 11 Morning

1 articles|1 sources

fake presidential councilforged documentnational budgetnigerian statepresidential foreign intervention promotion council

Political Strategy(1)

BBC News - WorldJul 11

How a fake presidential council ended up with a budget of almost $1m in Nigeria

Nigeria's Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which appeared to operate as a legitimate government agency with civil servants and a budget of nearly $1 million in the 2026 national budget, has been declared a fiction by the presidency. Officials state the organization was established using a forged letter of appointment for its director general, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, bearing a falsified signature of the president's chief of staff. Matthew denies wrongdoing, claiming lawful establishment and appointment, and alleges bribery demands. Investigators are examining how the PFIPC gained apparent legitimacy and budget allocation, suggesting a deeper complicity within the state machinery beyond a single forged document. The government asserts no public funds were released, though the incident highlights the ease with which a fake institution can be created.

Mixed toneFactual4 sources

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Key Claims

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The Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) was presented as a legitimate government agency with offices, civil servants, and a budget allocation.

factual

The presidency announced that the PFIPC had never been created by law or any official instrument, and its legitimacy rested on a forged appointment letter.

— Presidency of Nigeria

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The PFIPC was allocated 1.3bn naira ($950,000; £700,000) in the 2026 national budget.

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Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, PFIPC's director general, denies wrongdoing, claims the council was lawfully set up, and accuses officials of demanding bribes.

— Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew

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Investigators are examining how the Nigerian state machinery moved on Adeyemi's behalf and who allowed it to happen.

Jul 9 Evening

1 articles|1 sources

fake federal agencypolitical stormcriminal forgeryimpersonationobtaining by false pretence

Political Strategy(1)

The Guardian - World NewsJul 9

Furore in Nigeria over fake federal agency set up in government HQ

A fake federal agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), was allocated 1.3 billion naira in Nigeria's 2026 budget, sparking a political crisis. The scheme came to light when the President's Chief of Staff alleged his signature was forged by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claimed to head the PFIPC. Matthew allegedly secured office space within government headquarters and misled the accountant-general's office. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. Critics have highlighted past misrepresentations by Matthew and raised concerns about the integrity of officials involved, intensifying scrutiny of corruption ahead of upcoming elections.

Mixed toneFactual3 sources

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Key Claims

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the independent corrupt practices and other related offences commission (ICPC) to open a probe into the matter.

— President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

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A fictitious federal entity was allocated 1.3bn naira in Nigeria’s 2026 budget.

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Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly forged the signature and seals of the president's chief of staff to head a fake presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC).

— Femi Gbajabiamila (alleged)

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The Nigerian presidency claimed Adeyemi met ambassadors without the foreign affairs ministry's knowledge and misled the accountant-general's office.

— Nigerian presidency

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Adeyemi had previously misrepresented himself as the president-general of a UN youth agency called World Youth Organisation in 2017.

— Presidency and supporters of the ruling party

Jul 8 Evening

1 articles|1 sources

forgeryfake agencypresidencyofficial documentsgovernment procedures

Political Strategy(1)

BBC News - WorldJul 8

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

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has ordered an investigation into how a fake agency was allegedly established within the presidency, securing office space and a 1.3 billion naira allocation in the 2026 budget. Adeniyi Adeyemi is accused of forging an appointment letter, purportedly from the president's chief of staff, to create this non-existent council. The presidency stated police forensic analysis confirmed the signature on the letter was forged. The investigation, led by the ICPC, will examine forged documents, false claims for recognition, and the involvement of any facilitators. President Tinubu emphasized the need to protect the integrity of federal institutions against impersonation and exploitation of procedural weaknesses.

MeasuredFactual3 sources

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Key Claims

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A fake agency allegedly secured office space within the Federal Secretariat, opened bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of 1.3bn naira.

— BBC News Pidgin

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The presidency claimed police forensic analysis confirmed the signature of the president's chief of staff on a disputed appointment letter was forged.

— Presidency

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Adeyemi and two other defendants are accused of using forged official documents to establish and operate a purported council.

— Federal High Court in Abuja

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President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate allegations including forged appointment letters, use of false claims for recognition, and opening of multiple bank accounts.

— President Tinubu

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The scandal has prompted mounting public pressure from civil society organisations, opposition politicians, and senior lawyers demanding an independent inquiry.

— Article