The Presidency has dismissed claims by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew that he was appointed to head a presidential agency, describing him as an impostor who allegedly operated a fictitious government body using forged documents and false representations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said investigations by security agencies established that the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, had no legal existence.
According to the Presidency, concerns about the alleged fake agency first emerged after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council reported that another body appeared to be carrying out similar functions. This prompted the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President to petition the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force on October 17, 2025, requesting an investigation into individuals allegedly forging appointment letters purportedly issued from the Chief of Staff’s office.
The petition alleged that Adeyemi, who presented himself as Director-General of the non-existent council, operated from an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, held meetings with foreign diplomats and Nigerian officials, and sought diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate United States visas for members of the organisation.
The statement said the petition was accompanied by copies of the alleged forged appointment letter, correspondence requesting a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and photographs of activities obtained from the group’s website.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also reportedly raised concerns about Adeyemi’s activities after he hosted ambassadors at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Abuja on October 10, 2025, without involving the ministry. In correspondence dated October 15, 2025, the ministry sought clarification from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Chief of Staff, stating that the meeting violated established diplomatic procedures.
The Presidency said the Office of the National Security Adviser subsequently contacted the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), which in turn requested clarification from the Chief of Staff. In response, the Chief of Staff denied issuing any appointment letter to Adeyemi, stressing that the office neither makes appointments nor issues appointment letters, responsibilities that fall under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
On November 5, 2025, the Chief of Staff again wrote to the OSGF, reiterating that neither Adeyemi nor the purported council was known to his office and confirming that security agencies had already been directed to investigate the matter.
According to the statement, police investigations led to Adeyemi’s arrest on October 27, 2025, at the Abuja office from which he allegedly operated. Officers reportedly searched the premises and his residence in Suleja, recovering documents and other exhibits.
The Presidency said Adeyemi told investigators that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola had assisted him in obtaining the alleged fake appointment letter. Police later established that Tanimola had died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Abuja on October 22, five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.
The statement said investigators concluded that Adeyemi forged his appointment documents, falsely presented himself as a presidential appointee and sought diplomatic assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under false pretences. Police also alleged that he operated 34 bank accounts, including nine linked to organisations described as fictitious, and fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. The Presidency noted that investigators found no evidence that government funds had been paid into the account.
Based on the findings, police filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices at the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 27, 2025. The Presidency said the case is scheduled for hearing on July 27, 2026.
The statement further alleged that while on police bail, Adeyemi publicly claimed that the Chief of Staff had appointed him as Director-General of the non-existent agency, a position the Presidency said contradicted his earlier statement to investigators. It said this prompted the Chief of Staff to issue another public disclaimer on June 8, 2026.
The Presidency also referenced an earlier incident in 2016, alleging that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as an ambassador and President-General of the World Youth Organisation, which he claimed was affiliated with the United Nations, before the UN reportedly denied the existence of such an organisation.
The Presidency urged politicians and members of the public to refrain from drawing conclusions about the matter while criminal proceedings are ongoing, noting that the case is before the court and remains sub judice.