Amanze Chinonye
The Presidency has released a detailed account of its investigation into Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, insisting he fraudulently presented himself as the Director-General of a non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, amid renewed public controversy over the matter, Prime Business Africa reports.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President first uncovered the alleged scam in October 2025 after complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) indicated that another body was operating in a manner that conflicted with its statutory functions.
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According to the Presidency, the Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force on October 17, 2025, requesting an investigation into individuals forging official appointment letters purportedly issued from his office.
The statement said the forged documents bore falsified signatures, reference numbers and official seals and were used to claim appointments into non-existent government entities, particularly the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The Presidency alleged that Adeyemi operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, where he reportedly held meetings with foreign diplomats and Nigerian officials and sought a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate visa applications for members of the alleged council.
It further disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had, on October 15, 2025, separately written to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Office of the Chief of Staff seeking clarification on the status of the organisation after Adeyemi convened a meeting with ambassadors at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja without the ministry’s involvement.
According to the statement, the ministry described the action as a breach of established diplomatic protocols.
The Office of the National Security Adviser subsequently referred the matter to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), which also sought clarification from the Chief of Staff.
The Presidency maintained that the Chief of Staff consistently denied appointing Adeyemi or recognising the organisation, stressing that his office neither makes federal appointments nor issues appointment letters, responsibilities reserved exclusively for the OSGF.
The statement said police investigators arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at the Abuja office from where he operated the scheme. Searches conducted at the office and his residence in Suleja reportedly led to the recovery of several documents and other exhibits.
According to the Presidency, Adeyemi told investigators that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola assisted him in procuring the forged appointment letter. However, police investigations established that Tanimola had died in a hotel fire in Abuja on October 22, 2025, five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.
The Presidency said investigators concluded that the council was fictitious and that Adeyemi forged appointment letters and other official documents, falsely represented himself as a presidential appointee and sought diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain United States visas.
It also alleged that investigators uncovered 34 bank accounts linked to Adeyemi, including nine opened in the names of fictitious organisations. The statement further claimed he fraudulently secured a Central Bank of Nigeria account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, although no government funds were paid into the account.
According to the Presidency, police concluded that the alleged actions amounted to forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence, adding that they undermined the integrity of the Presidency and could have exposed government institutions to reputational and diplomatic risks.
Based on the outcome of the investigation, the police filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices before the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 27, 2025. The case is scheduled to resume on July 27, 2026.
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The Presidency also said Adeyemi, while on police bail, renewed claims that he had been appointed by the Chief of Staff as Director-General of the purported council, a position it said contradicted his earlier statement to investigators.
It said the latest claims prompted the Chief of Staff to issue another public disclaimer on June 8, 2026, reaffirming that neither Adeyemi nor the organisation was recognised by the Presidency.
The statement further referenced an incident in 2016 in which Adeyemi allegedly claimed to be an ambassador and President-General of the World Youth Organisation, which he described as an affiliate of the United Nations, a claim the UN subsequently denied.
The Presidency urged politicians and members of the public to avoid drawing conclusions while the matter remains before the court, stressing that the allegations are now subject to judicial determination.
The latest clarification comes amid growing public scrutiny of claims surrounding the existence of the purported council and underscores the Presidency’s effort to distance itself from the alleged activities while criminal proceedings continue.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
