The discovery of a fake federal agency within Nigeria's highest echelons of power has ignited a maelstrom of corruption allegations, threatening to undermine President Bola Tinubu's administration just months into his tenure. The 'Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council' (PFIPC), allocated 1.3 billion naira (£705,248) in the 2026 budget, has been found to be entirely fictitious, sparking widespread outrage and calls for transparency.
The forgery came to light last October when Femi Gbajabiamila, the president's chief of staff, reported that his signature and official seals had been forged by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claimed to have been appointed by the presidency to lead the non-existent PFIPC. The case is set for hearing on 27th July, with Matthew facing eight charges, including criminal forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence.
Further details released by the Nigerian presidency allege that Adeyemi met with ambassadors without the foreign affairs ministry's knowledge and misled the country's accountant-general's office into opening accounts for the PFIPC with both the central bank and 33 commercial banks. The similarities in names between the fictitious agency and the legitimate Nigerian Investment Promotion Council have raised alarms, prompting questions about how such access was gained and speculation of potential collusion.
In response to the growing controversy, President Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to initiate an investigation. While a Senate motion for an independent probe did not pass, the House of Representatives has established a committee to question Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, regarding the allocation.
The scandal has also brought renewed scrutiny to the past records of some key government officials. Femi Gbajabiamila's suspension from practising law in Atlanta, Georgia, for failing to pass on a client's injury settlement, as well as Abubakar Atiku Bagudu's stint in a US federal prison accused of being an accomplice to former dictator Sani Abacha in embezzling billions from the Nigerian government, are being highlighted by critics amidst the ongoing investigation.