Abuja — The Presidency has described Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as an impostor who allegedly forged appointment documents and operated a fictitious presidential agency, saying he will face trial on July 27 over multiple criminal charges.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said investigations by security agencies established that the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, never existed.
According to the statement, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President first raised the alarm in October 2025 after complaints from officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council over the activities of the alleged fake agency.
The Chief of Staff subsequently petitioned the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), alleging that fraudsters had forged appointment letters purportedly issued from his office and were using them to claim leadership positions in non-existent government bodies.
The Presidency said Adeyemi allegedly held meetings with diplomats and government officials, operated from an office in the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, and sought a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate United States visas for members of his organisation.
It added that investigations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation all confirmed that neither Adeyemi nor the agency he claimed to head was recognised by the Federal Government.
Police arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at his office in Abuja. Searches of his office and residence in Suleja reportedly led to the recovery of forged appointment letters and other documents.
According to the Presidency, police investigations found that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including nine allegedly opened in the names of fictitious agencies, and fraudulently secured a Central Bank of Nigeria account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. However, investigators said no government funds were paid into the account.
The police subsequently filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices at the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 27, 2025.
The Presidency said Adeyemi, while on police bail, recently renewed claims that he had been appointed by the Chief of Staff, prompting another official disclaimer on June 8.
Onanuga urged politicians and members of the public not to rely on Adeyemi’s claims, noting that the matter is before the court and should be allowed to run its course.
