The Presidency has provided a detailed account of how one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly operated a fictitious government agency, insisting that claims linking the Office of the Chief of Staff to his appointment are false and contradicted by ongoing criminal investigations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Adeyemi had been falsely presenting himself as the Director-General of a non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
According to the Presidency, concerns about the activities of the purported agency first emerged after complaints from officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, who reported that another organisation appeared to be operating in a manner that conflicted with its mandate.
On October 17, 2025, the Chief of Staff to the President formally petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, requesting an investigation into individuals allegedly forging appointment letters and falsely claiming presidential appointments.
The petition alleged that Adeyemi and his associates were using forged documents bearing fake signatures, seals and reference numbers to project themselves as officials of a presidential agency that did not exist. The Presidency said the group reportedly operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, held meetings with local and foreign stakeholders and sought diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate visa applications.
The statement revealed that the petition to security agencies was accompanied by copies of the alleged forged appointment letter, correspondence seeking diplomatic intervention, and photographs of activities promoted by the group.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also raised concerns about Adeyemi’s activities. In a letter dated October 15, 2025, the ministry sought clarification from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Staff after Adeyemi reportedly convened a meeting with ambassadors in Abuja without official authorization.
The ministry described the action as a violation of established diplomatic protocols.
Subsequent correspondence among the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Chief of Staff consistently questioned the legitimacy of the purported council and Adeyemi’s claimed appointment.
The Presidency stated that the Chief of Staff repeatedly denied issuing any appointment letter to Adeyemi, stressing that appointments to government positions fall within the authority of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and not the Chief of Staff.
Police investigations later led to Adeyemi’s arrest on October 27, 2025, at an office within the Federal Secretariat where he allegedly operated the scheme.
According to the statement, searches conducted at both his office and residence in Suleja uncovered documents and materials investigators considered crucial evidence.
Investigators reportedly established that the agency Adeyemi claimed to head did not exist and that documents used to support his claims had been forged.
The police further alleged that Adeyemi falsely represented himself as a government appointee, sought diplomatic assistance under false pretences and operated multiple bank accounts linked to organisations described as fictitious entities.
The investigation also uncovered what police described as a fraudulent attempt to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account through misleading representations made to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. Authorities, however, said no government funds were transferred into the account.
Police concluded that the alleged offences amounted to forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Based on their findings, investigators filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two other suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 27, 2025. The case is scheduled for hearing on July 27, 2026.
The Presidency noted that despite being on police bail, Adeyemi recently renewed claims that he had been appointed by the Chief of Staff, prompting another public disclaimer from the Presidency on June 8.
Onanuga said the suspect’s latest claims were inconsistent with statements he allegedly made during police interrogation.
The Presidency further recalled that Adeyemi had previously been linked to a 2016 controversy in which he allegedly presented himself as an ambassador and President-General of a purported World Youth Organisation said to be affiliated with the United Nations, a claim later denied by the global body.
The statement urged politicians and members of the public to avoid drawing conclusions before the court delivers judgment, emphasizing that the matter is currently before the judiciary
