Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, has ordered an investigation into allegations that a fake government agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), was established within his own office and received public funding worth approximately $950,000 (£700,000).

According to the presidency, a letter purportedly from the president's chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, creating the PFIPC was forged. Police have launched a manhunt for Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who had been presenting himself as the "PFIPC director general," on suspicion of forgery, impersonation, and related offences. Before going into hiding, Adeyemi told local media he was innocent and feared for his life.

Checks by BBC News Pidgin revealed that the agency had secured office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, opened bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of 1.3 billion naira ($950,000; £700,000).

Charges filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja accuse Adeyemi and two other defendants of using forged documents to establish and operate the purported council, opening multiple bank accounts in its name, and seeking official recognition for an agency the government maintains does not exist.

President Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days. He also ordered investigators to examine how the fictitious body acquired the appearance of official legitimacy and to identify weaknesses in government procedures that may have been exploited.

Tinubu emphasized that the integrity of the presidency and federal institutions "must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and the exploitation of weaknesses in the public service." He added, "All persons found culpable are to be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law."

Sources