In the midst of Nigeria’s heated 2026 election campaign, a startling revelation has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. A fictitious federal agency, allocated a substantial 1.3bn naira (£700,000) in the national budget, has exposed deep-seated issues of corruption and misconduct within the highest echelons of government.
The scandal came to light last October when Femi Gbajabiamila, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chief of staff, accused Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew of forging official documents to claim leadership of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). This case, set to be heard in Abuja on 27 July, has become a focal point in the lead-up to the January elections.
The Emergence of the PFIPC Scandal
The PFIPC scandal unfolded when Gbajabiamila reported to the police that his signature, along with official seals and reference numbers, had been forged. Adeyemi allegedly used these forged documents to claim an appointment from the presidency and establish the non-existent agency. The police filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two others, including criminal forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence.
In a 1 July statement, the Nigerian presidency revealed that Adeyemi had met with ambassadors without the foreign affairs ministry’s knowledge and misled the accountant-general’s office into opening accounts for the PFIPC with the central bank and 33 commercial banks. The actual Nigerian Investment Promotion Council raised alarms about the similarities between the PFIPC and their legitimate organization.
The PFIPC was not only included in the budget but also allocated office space in the federal secretariat in Abuja, a massive complex housing key government ministries and agencies. This has led to speculation about collusion with high-ranking officials, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the government’s operations.
Defending Gbajabiamila and Investigative Actions
The presidency defended Gbajabiamila, urging the public not to accept Adeyemi’s narrative without scrutiny. Local reports indicate that Adeyemi claimed to have received an appointment letter from Gbajabiamila, who denied any knowledge of him. President Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the Matter, but a Senate motion to investigate the PFIPC did not pass.
The House of Representatives established a committee to question Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the minister of budget and economic planning. The presidency and ruling party supporters highlighted Adeyemi’s past misrepresentations, including his false claim to be the president-general of a non-existent UN youth agency called the World Youth Organisation in 2017.
Controversial Records of Key Officials
Critics of the Tinubu administration have pointed to the controversial histories of key officials involved in the scandal. In 2007, Gbajabiamila faced a three-year suspension from practising law in Atlanta after failing to pass on a $25,000 injury settlement to a client. He later admitted to violating professional conduct rules, blaming a paralegal for the oversight.
Bagudu spent six months in a federal prison in Houston in 2003 for his alleged involvement with former dictator Sani Abacha in embezzling billions of dollars from the Nigerian government. Bagudu agreed to return $163m to Nigerian authorities, leading to his release without admitting wrongdoing.
The latest scandal has intensified pressure on President Tinubu ahead of the January elections, bringing the issue of endemic corruption back into the spotlight. Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, who is set to challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid, has called for an independent commission of inquiry to uncover the truth behind the PFIPC scandal.
Abubakar’s spokesperson, Phrank Shuaibu, emphasized the need for a thorough investigation, stating, “Nigerians deserve the whole truth, not carefully scripted press statements.” He demanded a truly independent investigation that follows the evidence wherever it leads, with no sacred cows or political protection.
