Self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew
The first court hearing in the alleged fake agency scandal ended without an arraignment on Wednesday after Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the man accused of heading the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Following his absence, the court issued a warrant for his arrest and ordered security agencies to bring him before the court.
The controversy began after concerns were raised over the existence and activities of the PFIPC, an agency authorities said was not created or approved by the Federal Government. The matter was later reported to security agencies, leading to an investigation that identified Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew as the alleged head of the organisation. He was subsequently charged alongside other individuals linked to the case over allegations including forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence. Authorities have accused the group of using official-looking documents and claims of government backing to present the agency as legitimate.
The development came days after Adeyemi wrote to President Bola Tinubu, asking for what he described as a fair and independent investigation into the allegations surrounding the agency. In the letter, Adeyemi called for a broader review of the matter involving independent stakeholders, arguing that such a process would help establish the facts and ensure that the investigation is not limited to one side of the story.
The request for an independent probe adds another layer to a case that has already attracted public attention. Adeyemi is accused by authorities of operating a fake government agency and using documents to create the impression that the PFIPC was an officially recognized body. The Presidency has maintained that the agency was not established by the government, while Adeyemi has continued to deny wrongdoing.
The controversy has also raised wider questions about how the alleged agency was able to operate, interact with government institutions, and gain a level of recognition before the allegations emerged. Beyond the claims against Adeyemi, the case has placed attention on the systems responsible for verifying government bodies and official appointments.
As the legal process moves forward, the court will determine the strength of the allegations against Adeyemi, while the public awaits answers on the larger issues surrounding the existence and operation of the alleged fake agency.
Previously, NTA reported that the case began after questions emerged over the existence and activities of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation that authorities later described as a fictitious government body.
The controversy drew attention after documents allegedly linked to the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, were questioned, with the Presidency maintaining that the documents were forged and that no such agency had been created by the government.
Following investigations, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, was charged alongside other individuals who have been alleged to at large over allegations including forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
