Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered a corruption investigation into allegations that a fictitious government agency was established within his own office, complete with an allocation of $950,000 (£700,000) in public funding. The presidency stated that the letter from the president's chief of staff creating the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) was forged.
The police have initiated a manhunt for Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who had been posing as the "PFIPC director general," on suspicion of forgery, impersonation, and related offenses. Before going into hiding, Matthew asserted his innocence to local media and expressed fears for his life, also stating his intention to appear in court to clear his name.
President Tinubu on Tuesday directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days. Investigations revealed that the purported agency had secured office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, opened bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of 1.3 billion naira.
The presidency claims that police forensic analysis confirmed the signature of the president's chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on the disputed appointment letter was forged. According to charges filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Matthew and two other defendants are accused of using forged official documents to establish and operate the council, opening multiple bank accounts and seeking official recognition for an agency the government denies exists.
Tinubu's directive to the ICPC includes investigating forged appointment letters and official government documents; the use of false claims to seek official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation; the opening of multiple bank accounts using allegedly forged documents; and the role of any public officer, private individual, financial institution, or intermediary who may have facilitated the scheme. The president also ordered investigators to examine the broader circumstances that allowed the fictitious body to gain the appearance of official legitimacy and to identify procedural weaknesses that may have been exploited.
The scandal has led to increased public pressure from civil society organizations, opposition politicians, and senior lawyers, who are demanding an independent inquiry. A statement from the presidency indicated that "all persons found culpable are to be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law," emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of the presidency and federal institutions against impersonation, forgery, and abuse of official identity.