By Brian Said Iha | July 8, 2026
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch a 30-day investigation into a fictitious government agency that allegedly operated from within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and was fraudulently allocated approximately ₦1.3 billion in the national budget.
The directive follows the discovery of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an entity authorities say had no legal basis under Nigerian law despite presenting itself as a legitimate federal agency.
According to the presidency, the fake institution established physical offices alongside genuine government ministries at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, opened official bank accounts—including a Treasury Single Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria—and conducted activities that gave the appearance of a legally constituted government body.
President Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate how the fraudulent agency managed to infiltrate government systems and secure official recognition before the scheme was uncovered.
The presidency has maintained that although the fictitious agency was listed for an allocation of about ₦1.3 billion (approximately US$944,300), no public funds were disbursed before authorities detected the irregularities and halted the process.
Investigators are examining how the operators allegedly acquired a government .gov.ng web domain, held meetings with foreign diplomats and obtained administrative approvals that enabled the organisation to function as though it were an official federal institution.
Authorities also revealed that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service had reportedly approved 314 staff positions for the purported agency before questions emerged over its legitimacy.
The main suspect has been identified as Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly appointed himself as the Director-General of the fictitious council.
According to the presidency, forensic examinations established that the signature of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, appearing on appointment documents linked to the agency had been forged.
Before reportedly going into hiding, Adeyemi claimed in local media interviews that senior government officials had demanded bribes to facilitate his appointment. The presidency has strongly denied the allegations and insisted the claims are unfounded.
Authorities have charged the suspect with forgery, impersonation and the alleged illegal opening of 34 bank accounts. He is expected to appear before a federal court on July 27, 2026.
The ICPC investigation will seek to establish how the forged presidential documents were created and authenticated, how a non-existent agency found its way into the national budget, and whether public officials or financial institutions knowingly facilitated the scheme.
Investigators will also examine the processes that enabled the entity to obtain official documentation, banking services and diplomatic engagement despite lacking any legal foundation under Nigerian law.
The scandal has raised fresh concerns about governance oversight, internal controls and public financial management within Nigeria’s federal institutions. Analysts say the outcome of the investigation could expose weaknesses in government verification systems and prompt reforms aimed at preventing similar cases of fraud within public institutions.
President Tinubu’s administration has said the investigation will identify any public officers, banking intermediaries or other individuals who may have aided the fraudulent operation, with appropriate legal action to follow where evidence of wrongdoing is established.
