Adeyemi is accused by the Nigeria Police Force of operating a fictitious government agency known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, allegedly forging official documents and impersonating a top government official.
KaNo —
The Presidency on Wednesday came under mounting public and legal scrutiny over the alleged activities of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The controversy has also drawn reactions from legal experts and civil society actors, with prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana insisting that the Presidency lacks the constitutional authority to exonerate any individual involved in the matter.
Adeyemi is accused by the Nigeria Police Force of operating a fictitious government agency known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, allegedly forging official documents and impersonating a top government official.
According to investigators, he presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent body and used forged documents bearing the purported signature of the Chief of Staff to give legitimacy to his claims.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency provided details of the case, including findings from the police investigation and the charges filed against Adeyemi.
The statement, titled “Re: The Matter of Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and the Fictitious Presidential Economic Advisory Council,” also warned political actors against using the situation to attack Gbajabiamila.
His arrest followed a formal petition by the Chief of Staff dated October 17, 2025, to both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police, alleging an elaborate scheme involving forgery and impersonation.
The police subsequently filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two accomplices, identified simply as Femi and Anu, who remain at large.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/2025, was filed before the Federal High Court on November 27, 2025.
The charges include conspiracy to commit forgery, forgery of presidential appointment letters, falsification of official State House letterheads, impersonation, and the creation of fraudulent correspondence aimed at legitimising the operations of the fictitious council.
One of the counts alleges that Adeyemi forged an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and signed by Gbajabiamila.
Despite being granted police bail, the Presidency noted that Adeyemi resurfaced with fresh claims that he had indeed been appointed to the role by the Chief of Staff,a position that directly contradicted his earlier statement to investigators in November 2024.
This development prompted Gbajabiamila to issue a public disclaimer on June 8, 2026, denying any association with the alleged appointment.
Adeyemi is expected to appear in court on July 27, 2026, as proceedings continue.
Further details revealed that the case originated from concerns raised by officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, who noticed the existence of another entity operating in a manner that conflicted with its mandate.
Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also flagged suspicious activities after Adeyemi reportedly hosted foreign diplomats at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro on October 10, 2025, without notifying or involving the ministry.
This move was described as a breach of established diplomatic protocols.
“This act contravenes extant rules and regulations guiding diplomatic practices globally,” the ministry was quoted as stating.
Subsequent correspondence between the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Chief of Staff further confirmed that no such appointment had been authorised.
Notably, Gbajabiamila had already issued a rebuttal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the chain of official inquiries was completed.
In his petition to security agencies, the Chief of Staff warned of individuals forging official appointment letters and using them to claim leadership roles in non-existent government entities.
“The fake documents, bearing falsified signatures, reference numbers, and official seals, have been used to claim leadership appointments to non-existent entities,” Gbajabiamila wrote
Police investigations, led by Assistant Commissioner Kabir Mogaji, uncovered what authorities described as a sophisticated operation.
Among the names used were the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership entities, which do not officially exist within the structure of government.
According to the police, Adeyemi also succeeded in opening an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria by allegedly deceiving officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation using forged documentation.
Although the Presidency maintained that no government funds were transferred into the account, investigators described the move as a deliberate attempt to infiltrate official financial systems for possible money laundering and diversion of public funds.
The police have since recommended that all identified accounts be frozen pending the conclusion of the trial.
Search warrants executed at Adeyemi’s office in the Federal Secretariat Complex and his residence in Suleja, Niger State, reportedly led to the recovery of forged documents, official letterheads, photographs, and correspondence addressed to various government institutions.
Investigators also revealed that three officials from the Office of the Accountant-General confirmed they had been posted to Adeyemi’s office in August 2025 but performed no official duties during their time there, raising further questions about internal lapses.
As the case unfolds, calls for transparency and accountability continue to grow, with legal experts warning that the integrity of government institutions could be at stake if the matter is not thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
