Fake agency DG fraudulently opened CBN account – Presidency

The Nigerian presidency has launched a formal legal action against Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, accusing him of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme involving the creation of fake government agencies and the misuse of financial systems. According to a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Adeyemi misrepresented himself as the Director-General of a non-existent organization known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council. This deception led to the unauthorized opening of a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account using forged government documents. The allegations suggest that Adeyemi's actions were part of a broader effort to exploit the trust placed in government officials and institutions, potentially enabling financial misconduct or corruption.

Investigations initiated by the Nigeria Police Force have confirmed that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, some of which were opened under the names of fictitious entities, including the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Public Private Partnership (FIPA-APP). These accounts were opened without proper authorization, raising serious questions about the integrity of the financial processes involved. During the investigation, police discovered that Adeyemi had forged his appointment letter and falsely presented himself as a government appointee. To further support his claims, he sought a note verbal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the issuance of U.S. visas for himself and his associates. These actions indicate a deliberate attempt to manipulate bureaucratic procedures for personal gain or to advance a hidden agenda.

The controversy surrounding Adeyemi emerged when officials from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council raised concerns about an agency appearing to operate independently and at odds with their objectives. This prompted the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to request an investigation from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force on October 17, 2025. As a result, Adeyemi was arrested on October 27, 2025, at his office in Abuja, where law enforcement teams seized numerous documents and other materials related to his activities. During interrogations, Adeyemi claimed that Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola had assisted him in obtaining the fake appointment letter. However, subsequent inquiries revealed that Tanimola had died in a fire incident at the Kachi Hotel in Abuja just five days prior to Adeyemi's arrest, casting doubt on his testimony.

The police investigation concluded that the agency Adeyemi claimed to represent did not exist, and all the documents recovered from him were found to be forged. The prosecution alleges that these actions constitute criminal forgery, impersonation, and obtaining benefits through false pretenses, which have tarnished the reputation of the Chief of Staff and the presidency. In response, the presidency has dismissed Adeyemi's recent assertion that he was appointed by the Chief of Staff, calling it false and contradictory to previous statements he made during the investigation. They have also urged the public and political figures to avoid using Adeyemi's allegations against Gbajabiamila, emphasizing that the matter is currently being addressed in court.

Meanwhile, in a separate but related development, India has expressed concerns over the potential risks associated with the introduction of a username feature on WhatsApp, owned by Meta. Authorities in India have requested that Meta delay the launch of this feature in the country due to fears of increased fraud and impersonation. The feature, which allows users to identify themselves through unique usernames rather than phone numbers, has been met with skepticism from Indian regulators, who worry that it might facilitate cybercrimes targeting vulnerable users. Despite these concerns, Meta maintains that it has already reserved usernames for public figures and verified accounts to prevent impersonation. The company has also stated that users will still need to provide their phone numbers to access WhatsApp, ensuring continued verification processes. The debate highlights the growing challenges of balancing user privacy with security in an increasingly digital world.