The Presidency is facing renewed public and legal pressure after a man accused of running a fictitious government body was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Rights lawyer Femi Falana has also called for an independent investigation into both the Chief of Staff and the defendant.

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew is facing 8 counts of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation. Prosecutors allege he operated a non-existent agency called the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” and used forged documents to give it credibility. According to the Presidency, Adeyemi was arrested on October 27, 2025 at his office in the Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja. This came after Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila petitioned the DSS and Police on October 17, 2025 over what he described as an elaborate forgery scheme. Adeyemi was arraigned on November 27, 2025 under charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/2025 alongside two others who are said to be at large.

The charges include conspiracy to forge presidential appointment letters, State House letterheads and official correspondence. One count alleges he forged an appointment letter said to have been issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and signed by the Chief of Staff. He is also accused of impersonating the Director-General of the fake council and operating 34 bank accounts, nine of which were opened in the names of fictitious agencies such as the “FCT Investment Promotion Agency” and “Public Private Partnership”. Police investigators led by ACP Kabir Mogaji said Adeyemi also attempted to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account with forged documents, though no government funds were moved. The police have recommended that all 34 accounts be frozen until the case is concluded. Searches at his office and home in Suleja, Niger State reportedly yielded forged letters, official letterheads and photographs. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 27, 2026.

The matter came to light after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission complained about a competing body. Concerns heightened when Adeyemi hosted ambassadors at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro on October 10, 2025 without informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry wrote to the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Staff on October 15, 2025, stating that the act violated global diplomatic rules. Gbajabiamila had already informed the Ministry two days earlier that he never made the appointment. He later told security agencies that impostors were meeting foreigners and Nigerians and had even requested a Note Verbale from the U.S. Embassy to secure visas for staff.

The Presidency says this is not Adeyemi’s first time in trouble. In November 2016 he allegedly presented himself as Ambassador and President-General of the World Youth Organisation, claiming United Nations affiliation until the UN denied any link. At a press conference last Thursday, Adeyemi denied the charges and accused Gbajabiamila of making contradictory statements. He alleged the Chief of Staff demanded 48 percent of a N27.4 billion take-off grant for the council, collected N400 million through a proxy, and asked for N200 million more. He also referenced pages 50 and 51 of the 2026 Appropriation Act, asking how a “non-existent” agency appeared there. He is asking for an independent panel and wants the Chief of Staff to step aside during the investigation.

Femi Falana told The PUNCH that the Presidency cannot exonerate anyone involved. He said it is the responsibility of the police and anti-graft agencies to investigate and urged that the matter be referred to the ICPC. He also questioned how N24 billion was budgeted for an unknown agency that allegedly had a CBN account.

In a statement signed on Wednesday by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency outlined the police findings and described Adeyemi’s conduct as part of a “long history of fraudulent conduct”. It cautioned against using the case for political attacks and urged the public to wait for the trial and the court’s decision. This is the second time the Presidency has distanced itself from Adeyemi since June 11, when Gbajabiamila notified foreign missions and financial institutions that the council had no official status under the Tinubu administration.

Adeyemi remains on police bail. Investigators also noted the death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, who Adeyemi said helped him obtain the forged letter. Police said Tanimola died in a fire at Kachi Hotel, Utako on October 22, 2025, five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.

Sources: Punch news.