In brief
A Nigerian man claiming to run a non‑existent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) was arrested in Osun State after a week‑long flight from authorities. Earlier, President Bola Tinubu ordered a probe into the fake agency, which allegedly received budgetary backing of almost ₦1.3 bn while using forged documents to claim office space and bank accounts. He was held on charges of forgery and impersonation, with police saying they used intelligence units to locate him. The case has prompted calls for an independent inquiry and raises questions about the vetting and oversight of government‑affiliated entities in Nigeria.
Boss of a fake government agency arrested in Nigeria after weeks of hiding
Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who presented himself as director‑general of the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has been detained in Osun State following a week of evasion.
On Tuesday a warrant was issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja after Adeyemi failed to appear at a scheduled hearing on forgery and impersonation. The case gained national attention when President Bola Tinubu ordered an investigation into the fictitious council.
According to court filings, Adeyemi and three others forged a letter purportedly from the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to establish the council. The forged document was used to secure office space in the Federal Secretariat, open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and claim a ₦1.3 bn allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act. However, the Accountant‑General’s Office reports the council has never operated a bank account or received public funds.
Police confirmed ops from its Force Intelligence Department and Intelligence Response Team were tasked to arrest him. Adeyemi is expected to be transferred to the Abuja police headquarters for further questioning.
He has maintained his innocence, claiming his life was in danger and that he promised to appear in court once safe. His lawyer, Genesis Francis, noted Adeyemi’s absence from the hearing was due to “security concerns”. Adeyemi also sent an open letter to President Tinubu expressing his fears.
Civil society groups, opposition politicians and senior lawyers have called for an independent inquiry into the scandal, highlighting the potential for corruption in newly formed agencies. The incident exemplifies the need for transparent vetting processes for entities linked to the government.
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