For years, one man spearheaded a Nigerian government agency that didn't exist

For years, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew operated as the so-called Director-General of the Nigerian Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), a government agency that did not officially exist. The PFIPC appeared legitimate on paper, complete with a budget, an office in the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, and a website marked with the government’s seal. It even employed over 300 staff and maintained a social media presence, including an active Instagram account. However, recent revelations have exposed the agency as a fabrication, prompting investigations into potential fraud and misuse of government resources. The PFIPC came under scrutiny after officials from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council raised concerns with the presidency in 2025, stating that Adeyemi’s operations seemed to conflict with their own efforts to promote foreign investment. A few months later, Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff, alerted the police, claiming that Adeyemi had forged documents bearing his signature, official seals, and reference numbers. These forged documents were allegedly used to assert leadership roles in non-existent entities, specifically the PFIPC. Gbajabiamila denied any knowledge of Adeyemi, and the presidency defended him, urging the public not to accept Adeyemi’s claims uncritically. In a statement issued on July 1, 2026, the Nigerian presidency revealed that Adeyemi had deceived the country’s accountant-general’s office into opening 34 bank accounts for the PFIPC, including with the Central Bank of Nigeria. Despite being listed in the 2026 national budget with an allocation of 1.3 billion naira ($1.3 million), no funds were actually transferred into these accounts. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter and provide a detailed report. Published on August 8, the ICPC’s findings confirmed that Adeyemi had never been formally appointed by any government authority and recommended his prosecution. The commission emphasized that the investigation was ongoing, aiming to uncover others potentially involved in or aiding the scheme. The exposure of the PFIPC has led to increased attention on another questionable entity, the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office (NBDMNSPO). This agency was identified as a fake by the ICPC in a recent announcement. According to the commission, the NBDMNSPO was led by George Buchi Nwabueze, who reportedly worked with individuals suspected of colluding within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The ICPC has begun investigating Nwabueze and his associates to determine their roles in the alleged deception. Nwabueze’s involvement suggests a broader pattern of fabricated government bodies operating under the guise of official institutions. While details about the NBDMNSPO remain sparse, the ICPC’s identification of this agency indicates that similar schemes might have gone undetected for some time. The commission has not yet released specific information about the extent of the NBDMNSPO’s activities or whether it received any government funding. The case of the PFIPC highlights vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s bureaucratic systems, allowing individuals to create and operate fake agencies with apparent legitimacy. The involvement of high-ranking officials such as the president’s chief of staff raises questions about oversight mechanisms and accountability within the administration. As the ICPC continues its probe, it will likely scrutinize the roles played by government officials who may have inadvertently or intentionally enabled these fraudulent operations. The Nigerian government faces mounting pressure to address systemic issues that allowed such deceptions to occur. With the ICPC’s investigation ongoing, further details about the scope of the fraud and the identities of those involved are expected to emerge. The outcome of these inquiries could influence future reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in governmental structures.