Arrest ends weeks‑long manhunt for head of fake Nigerian agency

The saga of Nigeria’s phantom government agency took a dramatic turn Tuesday when police arrested Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the self‑styled director general of the so‑called Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Adeyemi was detained in Osun State after failing to appear in court to face charges of forgery and impersonation. His arrest followed a warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where prosecutors allege he used forged documents to establish and operate the fictitious body.

The scandal erupted last week when President Bola Tinubu ordered a corruption probe into the PFIPC, which had appeared in official records despite never being formally recognised. Police forensic analysis confirmed that the signature of Tinubu’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, on the disputed appointment letter was forged.

Investigators say the PFIPC had managed to secure office space in the Federal Secretariat, open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and even feature in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budget allocation of 1.3bn naira ($950,000). The Accountant‑General’s Office insists no funds were ever disbursed.

Civil society groups, opposition politicians and senior lawyers have demanded an independent inquiry, warning that the case exposes serious weaknesses in Nigeria’s governance systems.

Adeyemi has maintained his innocence, telling local media his life was in danger and promising to clear his name in court. But his absence at Tuesday’s hearing, coupled with his arrest, has deepened public scepticism. His lawyer, Genesis Francis, admitted he could not persuade his client to attend, citing safety fears.

Court documents accuse Adeyemi and two others of opening multiple bank accounts in the PFIPC’s name and seeking official recognition for the non‑existent agency. He is expected to be transferred to Abuja for further questioning as investigators widen the probe into what has become one of Nigeria’s most startling corruption scandals in recent years.

Source: BBC