02/07/2026
NOLLYWOOD IN THE PRESIDENCY?
Una Good Afternoon oooo.
I do not usually share political news, but today, I stumbled on a matter, happening in Nigeria, that is at once funny and very troubling.
It concerns the Presidency and it's claims that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), headed by one Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, which featured in the presidential budget with an allocation of about 1.3 billion naira, is fictitious.
Walk with me and see where the issues really are!
According to the Presidency and police investigations, Adeyemi operated a fictitious agency by forging documents, including an appointment letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. He secured office space in the Federal Secretariat (Phase III, 2nd Floor), opened a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account, and engaged in activities such as summoning ambassadors, holding meetings with ministers and diplomats, and seeking diplomatic facilitation (e.g., a note verbale for U.S. visas).
The Chief of Staff’s office disclaimed the agency in October 2025 following complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) about overlapping functions. He (Gbajabiamila) petitioned the (DSS) and police on October 17, 2025, to investigate forgery and impersonation.
Adeyemi was arrested on October 27, 2025, at his Secretariat office. Police recovered forged documents from his office and residence in Suleja. He faces eight-count charges (filed November 27, 2025) including conspiracy, forgery of presidential and official documents, and impersonation before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a hearing scheduled for July 27, 2026.
On his part, Adeyemi has countered these claims, alleging the agency operated legitimately for over a year with approved personnel, bank accounts, and official engagements. He accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a ₦400 million upfront bribe (with ₦200 million outstanding) and 48% of a purported ₦27.3 billion take-off grant, leading to his “disownment” after refusal. He petitioned President Tinubu for an independent probe.
A significant complicating factor is the agency’s inclusion in the 2026 Appropriation Act (signed by President Tinubu), with an allocation of ₦1,302,978,784 (for personnel and overhead, plus capital projects). It appears under the Presidency on relevant budget pages. National Assembly committees even sent official correspondence to the agency in 2025, inviting nominations for programs (interesting)!
Here are some of the grave Issues and Questions
As How Now? The presidency wants us to believe that one individual was able to impersonate a high-level presidential appointee, occupy federal space, interact with diplomats and officials, and secure budget provisions - all by himself?
Maybe nobody checks Anything: It’s inclusion in the national budget (approved by all relevant arms, plus the President) raises questions about how things are scrutinized in Nigeria! This clearly shows that there exists several potential for ghost projects or allocations that are fraudulent in a larger scales, and through which public funds are diverted from legitimate priorities and projects.
Chief of Staff come outside: Adeyemi’s bribery claims against the Chief of Staff fuel perceptions of patronage, rent-seeking, and elite impunity. These kind of scandals undermine confidence in the executive, especially as many Nigerians in dealing with the consequences of the failure of same leaders!
How about the issue of Diplomatic and foreign Reputation? This man engaged foreign internationals. This alone risks damaging Nigeria’s credibility abroad while complicating the lives of Nigerians abroad and those seeking to go abroad!
Nigeria has become a joke and our leaders cannot believe their luck. They can literally do anything and get away with it - including setting up ghost agencies and allocating billions to them.
Ewella, OP
02/07/26
