Nigeria's Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a purported government agency, secured a £700,000 budget allocation before being exposed as a non-existent entity. The council, tasked with attracting foreign investment, had all the trappings of legitimacy: offices in Abuja, employed civil servants, and an official website – until it was suddenly pulled down.
For much of 2025, PFIPC Director General Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew moved seamlessly through the corridors of power. He engaged with cabinet ministers, financial regulators, and foreign diplomats, even securing approval to recruit over 300 staff despite a government-wide freeze on public-sector hiring. Its allocation in the 2026 national budget – equivalent to £700,000 – was met with little scrutiny.
But last month, the Nigerian presidency delivered a bombshell: PFIPC had no legal basis for existence and was entirely fictitious. Officials claimed the council's authority stemmed from a single forged document: an appointment letter purportedly signed by President Bola Tinubu's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Prince Adeyemi Matthew has vehemently denied these allegations, insisting PFIPC was lawfully established in 2024 and his appointment legitimate. He has further accused senior officials of soliciting bribes and attempting to misappropriate the council's funds – claims refuted by the presidency. As the scandal deepens, Adeyemi, now reportedly in hiding due to fears for his safety, is expected to face charges including forgery and impersonation later this month.
The implications are far-reaching: an investigation has been launched into how a non-existent organisation could have gained such traction within the Nigerian state. Experts suggest that officials from key departments – including the Budget Office, Accountant-General, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation – must have been complicit in PFIPC's activities. Transparency groups, like BudgIT, which first highlighted the council's funding, point out that its sudden appearance in the 2026 budget suggests origination within the executive branch.
The alleged fraud raises serious questions about government accountability and the mechanisms in place to prevent such abuses of power. As Nigeria grapples with the consequences of this scandal, international partners will be watching closely – for this is not just a domestic issue, but also a test of Nigeria's commitment to transparency and good governance.