The Presidency has disowned Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who paraded himself as Director-General of a “fictitious” Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, describing him as an impostor now facing trial for forgery and impersonation.
In a statement issued Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the State House said Adeyemi is due in court on July 27 on an eight-count charge filed by the Police.
The Chief of Staff to the President first raised alarm on October 17, 2025, after the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council complained that another agency appeared to be “functioning at cross-purposes” with it.
In a letter to the DSS and Police, the Chief of Staff reported “fraudsters and imposters” forging appointment letters purportedly from his office. The fake documents bore falsified signatures, reference numbers, and seals, and were used to claim leadership of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
Adeyemi, who claimed to be DG, operated from an office on the 2nd Floor, Federal Secretariat Complex Phase III, Abuja. He allegedly hosted meetings with foreigners and Nigerians and even requested a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate US visas for his staff.
“This not only constitutes a serious criminal act but also undermines the integrity of the presidency,” the Chief of Staff wrote.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry, in an October 15, 2025 letter signed by Ambassador Anderson Madubuike, asked the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Staff to clarify Adeyemi’s status. This followed his October 10 meeting with ambassadors at Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, “without recourse to the ministry.”
“This act contravenes extant rules and regulations guiding diplomatic practices globally,” the Ministry said.
On October 29, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation also sought clarification from the Chief of Staff “owing to several requests from governmental and non-governmental bodies” about the appointment.
The Chief of Staff, in responses on October 27 and November 5, 2025, “flatly denied” Adeyemi and the agency. “Prince Adeniyi Matthew… is unknown to any office, nor do we have any dealings with the said council,” he wrote, adding that the appointment letter was fake. He noted that the Chief of Staff does not make appointments — that is the preserve of the SGF.
Following the October 17 petition, Police arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at his Secretariat office. Searches of his office and Suleja home yielded “vital documents and exhibits.”
In his statement, Adeyemi claimed one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola helped procure the fake appointment letter. Police found Tanimola had died in a fire at Kachi Hotel, Abuja, on October 22, 2025, five days before Adeyemi’s arrest. His body was identified at the morgue.
Police established that the agency was fictitious, Adeyemi forged his appointment letter and other documents, falsely paraded himself as a government appointee, and solicited a note verbale for US visas.
Investigators also found Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, with nine opened in the names of other fictitious agencies — FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Public Private Partnership (FIPA-APP), and FCT Investment Promotion Act.
Using fake documents, he allegedly misled the Office of the Accountant-General to open a CBN account. “No government money has been transferred into the account,” Police said.
“The act of the suspect constitutes criminal forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence, thereby bringing the office of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Presidency to disrepute,” said the investigation report by Assistant Commissioner Kabir Mogaji.
Based on findings, Police filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two accomplices at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 27, 2025. He is due in court July 27, 2026.
Adeyemi was on police bail when he recently claimed again that the Chief of Staff appointed him DG, contradicting his November 2025 statement to Police. This prompted the Chief of Staff’s June 8, 2026 disclaimer.
The Presidency noted Adeyemi “has a history of fraudulent misrepresentation.” In November 2016, he paraded himself as an ambassador and President-General of the World Youth Organisation, WYO, claiming UN affiliation. The UN denied the body’s existence.
“Politicians and members of the public who are weaponising Adeyemi’s claim against the Chief of Staff should refrain from swallowing his narrative hook, line and sinker,” Onanuga said. “They are advised to await the trial… as comments made today are sub judice.”
