Phantom Agency Scandal Unravels in Nigeria: Director-General Arrested
By Editor • August 22, 2026 • 1 min read
A shocking revelation has surfaced about a non-existent Nigerian government agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which operated under the guise of legitimacy for years. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claimed to be the agency's Director-General, has been charged with impersonation and forgery.
The PFIPC had all the hallmarks of an official body: it was allocated funding, had an office located in Abuja's Federal Secretariat, and maintained a website that appeared authentic. Adeyemi even managed to attract interest from high-level government officials, including cabinet members and foreign diplomats.
Concerns about his activities emerged in 2025 when the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council alerted the presidency, stating that the PFIPC seemed to operate at cross-purposes with legitimate government functions. The situation escalated when Femi Gbajabiamila, the president's chief of staff, accused Adeyemi of forging his signature and official documents to claim authority over the fictitious agency.
Despite the apparent legitimacy, the Nigerian presidency confirmed on July 1, 2026, that Adeyemi had misled the accountant-general into opening 34 bank accounts for the PFIPC, which were never funded. The PFIPC was even included in the national budget with a proposed allocation of 1.3 billion naira ($1.3 million), but no funds were transferred.
Following the explosive findings, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu instructed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to launch an investigation. The ICPC's report, released on August 8, clarified that Adeyemi had never been appointed by any government authority, leading to calls for his prosecution.
In a related development, another fictitious agency, the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office (NBDMNSPO), is also under scrutiny. Its alleged leader, George Buchi Nwabueze, is wanted for his involvement in a similar scheme, with officials suspecting he had accomplices within the government.
Source: www.abc.net.au
