The Presidency has dismissed claims by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew that he was appointed to head a presidential advisory body, describing him as an impostor who allegedly built an elaborate network of forged documents and false identities to deceive government institutions and the public.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Adeyemi had been parading himself as the Director-General of a non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
According to the Presidency, concerns first emerged after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council complained that another agency appeared to be carrying out similar functions.
The Office of the Chief of Staff to the President subsequently petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police on 17 October, requesting an investigation into what it described as the activities of “fraudsters and imposters” forging official appointment letters.
In the petition, the Chief of Staff wrote: “The attention of this office has been drawn to the activities of certain individuals and groups engaged in the forgery of official appointment letters purportedly issued from my office. The fake documents, bearing falsified signatures, reference/folio numbers, and seals, have been used to claim leadership appointments to non-existent entities, with particular reference to the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.”
The petition further alleged that Adeyemi and his associates operated from an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, held meetings with Nigerian and foreign officials, and even sought diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate United States visas for members of the purported agency.
“The above development not only constitutes a serious criminal act but also undermines the integrity of the presidency and the credibility of official government communication. I therefore urge you to initiate a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend those involved and also to uncover the network facilitating the forgery,” the Chief of Staff stated.
The Presidency said the petition was accompanied by copies of the alleged forged appointment letter, correspondence requesting a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and photographs of activities obtained from the group’s website.
The statement added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had independently raised concerns about the organisation after Adeyemi reportedly met ambassadors at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Abuja on 10 October 2025 without the ministry’s involvement.
In a letter dated 15 October 2025, the ministry sought clarification from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Staff on the status of the organisation, stating: “This act contravenes extant rules and regulations guiding diplomatic practices globally.”
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation later sought clarification from the Chief of Staff following multiple enquiries about the purported appointment.
Responding on 5 November 2025, the Chief of Staff denied any knowledge of Adeyemi or the organisation.
“Prince Adeniyi Matthew, director-general of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, is unknown to any office, nor do we have any dealings with the said council. My attention was drawn to a letter of this purported application, which is fake, and my office has instructed the police and other relevant security agencies to carry out investigations on the person and the entity he claims to represent,” he wrote.
According to the Presidency, police investigations led to Adeyemi’s arrest in Abuja on 27 October 2025. Officers reportedly searched his office and residence in Suleja, recovering documents they believe were forged.
The statement said Adeyemi told investigators that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola had helped him obtain the alleged fake appointment letter. However, police later established that Tanimola had died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Abuja on 22 October, five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.
The police reportedly concluded that the agency Adeyemi claimed to head did not exist and alleged that he forged appointment documents, falsely presented himself as a government appointee and fraudulently sought a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure US visas.
Investigators also alleged that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including nine opened in the names of fictitious agencies, and fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. The Presidency, however, said investigators found that no government funds were paid into the account.
Quoting the police investigation report, the statement 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 before the public and international community.”
The Presidency said the police filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 27 November 2025. The case is scheduled for hearing on 27 July.
Onanuga said Adeyemi, while on police bail, recently renewed claims that he had been appointed by the Chief of Staff, prompting the Presidency to issue another public disclaimer on 8 June.
He further alleged that Adeyemi had a history of fraudulent misrepresentation, recalling that in 2016 he claimed to be an ambassador and President-General of the World Youth Organisation, which he described as a United Nations affiliate, before the UN denied the existence of such an organisation.
The Presidency urged politicians and members of the public not to prejudge the matter.
“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. They are advised to await the trial of Adeyemi and his accomplices, as well as the court’s judgement, as comments made today are sub judice,” the statement added.
