By Adegbaju Temitope 

The Presidency has dismissed claims by one Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew that he was appointed to head a presidential agency, describing him as an impostor who allegedly forged official documents and operated a fictitious government institution to deceive public officials and members of the public.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said investigations by security agencies had established that the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, never existed.

According to the statement, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President first alerted security agencies after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) raised concerns about another body allegedly operating at cross-purposes with the commission.

The Chief of Staff subsequently petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police on October 17, 2025, requesting an investigation into what he described as “fraudsters and impostors” forging appointment letters purportedly issued from his office.

The Presidency said investigations revealed that Adeyemi had been presenting himself as Director-General of the non-existent agency, operating from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, organising meetings with diplomats and government officials, and seeking diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate visas for members of the organisation.

It said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also questioned the legitimacy of the agency after Adeyemi reportedly convened a meeting with ambassadors at the Wells Carlton Hotel, Abuja, without the ministry’s knowledge or approval.

According to the statement, the Chief of Staff consistently denied issuing any appointment letter to Adeyemi, stressing that appointments into federal offices are the responsibility of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

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

The Presidency said searches conducted at his office and residence in Suleja led to the recovery of forged appointment letters and other incriminating documents.

According to the police investigation, Adeyemi allegedly admitted that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola assisted him in obtaining the fake appointment letter. However, investigators later established that Tanimola had died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel, Abuja, five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.

The investigation also reportedly uncovered 34 bank accounts linked to Adeyemi, including nine allegedly opened in the names of fictitious government agencies.

The statement further alleged that he used forged documents to fraudulently open an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, although no government funds were paid into the account.

According to the police, the alleged offences include forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence, acts they said brought the Presidency into disrepute.

Based on the outcome of the investigation, the police filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two others before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 27, 2025. The case is scheduled for hearing on July 27.

The Presidency said Adeyemi’s recent public claim that the Chief of Staff appointed him contradicted the statement he voluntarily made to the police during the investigation.

It also alleged that Adeyemi had a history of false representation, recalling that in 2016 he claimed to be President-General of a purported World Youth Organisation allegedly affiliated with the United Nations before the UN denied the existence of such an organisation.

The Presidency urged politicians and members of the public to refrain from drawing conclusions on the matter while the case remains before the court, noting that the issues are now sub judice.