Presidency Dismisses Claims Linking Chief of Staff to Alleged Fake Presidential Agency
Presidency Dismisses Claims Linking Chief of Staff to Alleged Fake Presidential Agency
Presidency Dismisses Claims Linking Chief of Staff to Alleged Fake Presidential Agency
The Presidency has dismissed claims linking the Chief of Staff to the President with the alleged appointment of Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as Director-General of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, describing the agency as fictitious and its activities as fraudulent.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the Office of the Chief of Staff first raised the alarm in October 2025 after complaints that an illegal organisation was presenting itself as a government agency and operating alongside legitimate institutions.
According to the statement, the Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force on October 17, 2025, requesting an investigation into individuals allegedly forging appointment letters bearing fake signatures, reference numbers and official seals purportedly issued from his office.
The Presidency said the group, allegedly led by Adeyemi, claimed to operate from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and held meetings with both Nigerian and foreign officials while also seeking diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate visa applications for its members.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier queried the status of the organisation after Adeyemi reportedly convened a meeting with ambassadors in Abuja without the ministry’s knowledge, describing the action as contrary to established diplomatic procedures.
According to the statement, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation also sought clarification from the Chief of Staff, who repeatedly denied appointing Adeyemi or recognising the alleged agency, stressing that no such government body exists.
Following investigations, the Nigeria Police arrested Adeyemi in Abuja on October 27, 2025, and searched his office and residence, where investigators reportedly recovered forged documents and other exhibits.
The Presidency said police investigations established that the agency was fictitious, the appointment letter was forged and Adeyemi falsely presented himself as a government official. Investigators also alleged that he operated 34 bank accounts, including several opened in the names of non-existent agencies, and fraudulently obtained a Central Bank account through false representations.
Police subsequently filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices at the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 27, 2025. The case is scheduled to resume on July 27, 2026.
The Presidency noted that while on police bail, Adeyemi again claimed he had been appointed by the Chief of Staff, describing the assertion as false and inconsistent with his earlier statements to investigators.
It urged the public and political actors to avoid drawing conclusions while the matter remains before the court, insisting that Adeyemi’s claims should be tested through the ongoing judicial process.
Presidency Dismisses Claims Linking Chief of Staff to Alleged Fake Presidential Agency
