Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered a corruption investigation into allegations that a fake government agency was created inside his own office and later secured public funding worth about $950,000.
The alleged body, known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), reportedly appeared in Nigeria’s 2026 budget with an allocation of 1.3 billion naira, despite the presidency saying it was never legally established.
Tinubu on Tuesday directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to submit a full report within 30 days.
The presidency said a letter purportedly signed by Tinubu’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to create the council had been forged. Police forensic analysis allegedly confirmed the signature was fake.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who presented himself as the council’s “director general.” He is wanted on suspicion of forgery, impersonation and related offences.
Before going into hiding, Adeyemi denied wrongdoing and told local media that he feared for his life. He claimed the council was lawfully established in 2024 to attract foreign investment to Nigeria. He also accused senior officials of demanding bribes during his appointment process and later trying to take control of the agency’s funds. The presidency denied the allegations.
BBC News Pidgin reported that the alleged agency had obtained office space inside the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, opened accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and appeared in the national budget. However, there is no public record of foreign investment deals secured through the body.
Three staff members linked to the council have reportedly been questioned by police.
According to charges filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Adeyemi and two other defendants are accused of using forged official documents to establish and operate the purported council, open multiple bank accounts and seek recognition for an agency the government says does not exist.
Tinubu ordered investigators to examine how the alleged scheme gained the appearance of official legitimacy, including any role played by public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries.
The president said 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.”
“All persons found culpable are to be treated strictly in accordance with applicable law,” the presidency said.
The scandal has sparked public pressure from civil society groups, opposition politicians and senior lawyers, who are calling for an independent inquiry into how an allegedly fictitious agency could secure office space, bank accounts and budgetary allocation.