The Presidency has restated that the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, is a fictitious organisation, insisting that its alleged Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is facing criminal prosecution over an elaborate impersonation and forgery scheme.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency dismissed recent claims by Adeyemi that he was legitimately appointed by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, describing the assertion as false and contrary to findings already made by security agencies.
According to the statement, the Office of the Chief of Staff first uncovered the existence of the illegal organisation after complaints from officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), who observed that another entity was operating in a manner that conflicted with its statutory responsibilities.
Following the discovery, the Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force on October 17, 2025, requesting a comprehensive investigation into individuals allegedly forging appointment letters purportedly issued from his office.
The Presidency said the petition alleged that forged documents bearing fake signatures, reference numbers and official seals were being used to create the impression that Adeyemi had been appointed Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The alleged syndicate was also accused of operating from an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, holding meetings with foreign diplomats and Nigerian stakeholders, and seeking diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including requests for note verbale to facilitate visa applications for its purported officials.
The Chief of Staff reportedly forwarded forged appointment letters, correspondence to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and photographs obtained from the group’s website as part of the evidence submitted to security agencies.
The Presidency further disclosed that concerns over the organisation had already reached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On October 15, 2025, the ministry reportedly sought clarification from both the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Office of the Chief of Staff after Adeyemi allegedly convened a meeting with ambassadors at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, Asokoro, Abuja, without official authorisation.
The ministry was quoted as stating that the meeting violated established diplomatic procedures and international protocols.
Subsequently, ONSA wrote to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), while the OSGF also sought clarification from the Chief of Staff following enquiries from government institutions and other organisations regarding the status of the purported appointment.
The Presidency maintained that the Chief of Staff consistently denied any knowledge of Adeyemi or the alleged council, stressing that his office neither issued appointment letters nor possessed constitutional authority to make such appointments, which fall within the statutory responsibilities of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
In a formal response dated November 5, 2025, the Chief of Staff again disowned Adeyemi and the organisation, describing both as unknown to the Presidency and reaffirming that law enforcement agencies had already been directed to investigate the matter.
According to the statement, police investigations commenced immediately after the petition and culminated in Adeyemi’s arrest on October 27, 2025, at the Abuja office from where he allegedly operated the scheme.
Searches conducted at both the office and his residence in Suleja reportedly yielded forged documents and other exhibits.
Investigators said Adeyemi informed police 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 five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.
The Presidency said police investigations established that the agency Adeyemi claimed to head never existed and that he allegedly forged appointment letters and other official documents, falsely represented himself as a presidential appointee, and fraudulently sought diplomatic documentation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate United States visa applications.
Investigators also reportedly uncovered 34 bank accounts linked to Adeyemi, including nine accounts allegedly opened in the names of fictitious entities such as the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIPA-APP).
The statement further alleged that Adeyemi fraudulently opened an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, although investigators confirmed that no public funds were paid into the account.
According to the police investigation report, the alleged offences include forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence, offences said to have brought the Presidency and the Office of the Chief of Staff into disrepute.
Based on the findings, police filed an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against Adeyemi and two other suspects on November 27, 2025. The matter is scheduled for hearing on July 27.
The Presidency noted that Adeyemi made fresh claims while on police bail, alleging that he had been appointed by the Chief of Staff. It described the claim as inconsistent with his earlier statements to investigators and said it prompted another public disclaimer issued on June 8.
The statement also alleged that Adeyemi had a previous history of fraudulent misrepresentation, recalling that in 2016 he claimed to be President-General of the World Youth Organisation, which he described as a United Nations affiliate, before the UN reportedly denied the existence of such an organisation.
The Presidency urged politicians and members of the public not to rely on Adeyemi’s claims, stressing that the matter is before the court and remains sub judice. It advised all parties to allow the judicial process to determine the issues raised in the criminal charges.
