The Presidency has alerted the public to what it calls a criminal impersonation scheme by one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly paraded himself as Director-General of a non-existent “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” and “Presidential Economic Advisory Council.”
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency said the Office of the Chief of Staff first raised the alarm on October 17, 2025, after complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council that another body was operating at cross-purposes with it.
According to the statement, the Chief of Staff petitioned the DSS and Police over “fraudsters and imposters” forging appointment letters purportedly from his office. The forged documents, bearing falsified signatures, seals and reference numbers, were used to claim leadership of the fake council and to host meetings with Nigerians and foreigners. The group also sought a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for U.S. visas, the Presidency said.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry flagged the matter on October 15, 2025, after Adeyemi met ambassadors at Wells Carlton Hotel, Asokoro, without clearance. The NSA and OSGF were subsequently drawn in for clarification. The Chief of Staff, in two separate responses on October 27 and November 5, 2025, denied issuing any appointment and said the council was “unknown” to the Presidency.
Police investigations led to Adeyemi’s arrest in Abuja on October 27, 2025, at the Federal Secretariat office he operated from. Searches of his office and home in Suleja yielded documents and exhibits. He allegedly told police that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola helped procure the fake letter. Police confirmed Tanimola died in a fire at Kachi Hotel, Abuja, on October 22, 2025.
Investigators concluded the agency was fictitious and that Adeyemi forged his appointment letter and other documents. He was also found to be operating 34 bank accounts, nine in the names of fictitious bodies including “FCT Investment Promotion Agency” and “Public Private Partnership (FIPA-APP).” The police said he used the fake papers to open a CBN account via the Office of the Accountant-General, but “no government money has been transferred into the account.”
“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,” the police report by Assistant Commissioner Kabir Mogaji stated.
On November 27, 2025, police filed an eight-count charge at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against Adeyemi and two accomplices. He is due in court on July 27, 2026.
The Presidency noted that while on police bail, Adeyemi recently claimed the Chief of Staff appointed him DG, a claim it said contradicts his earlier police statement. A fresh disclaimer was issued on June 8, 2026.
The statement also recalled that in November 2016, Adeyemi falsely claimed to be “Ambassador and President-General of the World Youth Organisation,” an affiliate he said was linked to the UN. The UN later 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, urging caution as the matter is sub judice.
