How does a government agency that doesn’t officially exist end up looking completely legitimate?
That’s the question Nigerians are asking after police arrested the man accused of running a fake presidential council from the heart of government.
Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew called himself director general of the so-called Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
He was arrested in Osun State after weeks on the run.
His detention followed a court warrant issued when he failed to appear on charges including forgery and impersonation.
The case exploded into the spotlight after President Bola Tinubu ordered a corruption probe.
According to the presidency, the letter supposedly creating the agency was forged.
It included the fake signature of the president’s chief of staff.
Forgery Case Shakes Nigeria
Investigators allege Adeyemi and two others used forged documents to establish the council, open bank accounts and seek official recognition.
Despite reportedly appearing in Nigeria’s 2026 budget with an allocation of 1.3 billion naira (around $950,000), officials insist the agency never received public money.
Officials also insist the agency never operated an official government account.
Adeyemi has denied any wrongdoing, claiming his life was in danger and insisting he intended to clear his name in court.
The scandal has sparked demands for an independent investigation.
It has also raised an uncomfortable question: if a fake agency could appear so real, what does that say about the system meant to stop it?
