<\/p>\n
Nigeria’s president has ordered a corruption probe into allegations he set up a shell government agency in his own office with $950,000 (\u00a3700,000) of government funding.<\/b><\/p>\n
According to the presidency, the letter from the head of the presidential administration on the establishment of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) was forged.<\/p>\n
Police have launched a manhunt for Adenia Adeyemi Mathew, who posed as the “CEO of PFIPC”, on suspicion of forgery, impersonation and related offences.<\/p>\n
Before going into hiding, Adeyemi told local media that he is innocent and now fears for his life.<\/p>\n
He also promised to appear in court to clear his name.<\/p>\n
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday directed the Independent Corruption and Other Offenses Commission (ICPC) to investigate and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.<\/p>\n
Checks by BBC News Pidgin revealed that the agency secured office space at the Federal Secretariat – a huge government complex that houses many of Nigeria’s ministries in the capital Abuja – opened bank accounts at the Central Bank of Nigeria and appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of 1.3 billion naira ($950,000; 700,000 pounds).<\/p>\n
The presidency said a police forensic examination confirmed that the signature of Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on the controversial appointment letter was forged.<\/p>\n
According to the charges filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja, Adeyemi and two other defendants are accused of using forged official documents to set up and operate the purported council, opening several bank accounts in its name and seeking official recognition for the agency, which the government claims does not exist.<\/p>\n
Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate various allegations including:<\/p>\n
Forged appointment letters and official government documents;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Using false claims to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Opening multiple bank accounts using allegedly forged documents and<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
The role of any government official, private individual, financial institution or intermediary who may have facilitated the alleged scheme.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
The president also ordered investigators to look into the broader circumstances that allowed the allegedly sham body to acquire official legitimacy and to identify flaws in government procedures that are believed to have been exploited.<\/p>\n
The scandal caused increased public pressure from civil society organizations, opposition politicians and high-ranking lawyers, who demanded an independent investigation.<\/p>\n
Tinubu said the integrity of the presidency and federal institutions “must be protected against impersonation, forgery, abuse of office and exploitation of weaknesses in the public service”.<\/p>\n
“All those found guilty will be treated strictly in accordance with the current legislation,” the president said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Additional reporting by Adesola Abisoye in Lagos<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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