Presidency Details Alleged Fraud Scheme, Says Fake Presidential Council Boss to Face Trial July 27

The Presidency has released a detailed account of its investigation into the activities of Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, describing him as an impostor who allegedly forged presidential appointment documents and operated a fictitious government agency while posing as a presidential appointee.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Adeyemi falsely presented himself as Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

According to the Presidency, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President first raised the alarm in October 2025 after complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) that another agency appeared to be performing overlapping functions.

The Chief of Staff subsequently petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, requesting an investigation into individuals allegedly forging appointment letters purportedly issued from his office.

The petition stated that the suspects had produced fake appointment letters bearing forged signatures, official seals and reference numbers to create the impression that the council was a legitimate federal government institution.

The statement alleged that Adeyemi operated an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, held meetings with diplomats and investors, and even requested a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate United States visas for members of the purported council.

The Presidency said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had independently raised concerns after Adeyemi reportedly convened a meeting with ambassadors at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja on October 10, 2025, without the ministry’s knowledge or approval.

The ministry, it said, sought clarification from both the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Chief of Staff, describing the action as contrary to established diplomatic practice.

Onanuga stated that the Office of the Chief of Staff repeatedly denied any knowledge of Adeyemi or the alleged presidential council, stressing that appointments into government agencies are the responsibility of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), not the Chief of Staff.

Following investigations, police arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at the Abuja office from where he allegedly operated the scheme.

Searches conducted at both his office and residence in Suleja reportedly yielded forged documents and other exhibits linked to the alleged operation.

According to the Presidency, police investigations established that the council was fictitious and that the suspect had forged appointment documents, impersonated a government official, and falsely sought diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Investigators also reportedly discovered that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including nine allegedly opened in the names of fictitious agencies.

The statement further alleged that he fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, although investigators found that no public funds had been paid into the account.

Police charged Adeyemi and two others before the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 27, 2025, on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

The case is scheduled to come up for hearing on July 27, 2026.

The Presidency also alleged that while on police bail, Adeyemi again claimed publicly that he had been appointed by the Chief of Staff, a position it said contradicted his earlier statement to investigators.

Onanuga described the suspect as “a con artist” with a history of false representation, recalling that in 2016 he allegedly claimed to be an ambassador and President-General of the World Youth Organisation, which he described as a United Nations affiliate before the UN reportedly denied the existence of such an organisation.

He urged politicians and members of the public not to rely on Adeyemi’s claims, noting that the matter is before the court and should be allowed to run its legal course.