A video of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the central figure in the alleged ₦1.3 billion “ghost agency” scandal, resurfaced online on Monday, further fueling public scrutiny over the existence and operations of the purported government agency.
The footage, recorded during a press conference in late June 2026, captures Adeyemi defending his claim as head of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council. During the briefing, he also disputed the stance of the Presidency and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, headed by Femi Gbajabiamila, regarding the agency’s legitimacy.
Speaking during the briefing, Adeyemi questioned how an agency the Presidency had described as non-existent was included in official budget documents.
He argued that the national budget is not prepared in isolation but goes through several stages, including technical drafting, executive coordination, ministerial contributions, Budget Office review, and legislative scrutiny by both chambers of the National Assembly.
He maintained that the inclusion of the agency in official budget documents had raised serious concerns about the credibility and transparency of the budget preparation process.
“The question becomes unavoidable: At what stage of the process were references to a non-existent agency allegedly introduced into the official record? And if such references are indeed contained in official documents, what does that say about the integrity of the process through which those documents were prepared and approved?” he queried.
Adeyemi also alleged that the agency operated multiple accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Responding to claims that the agency does not exist, he argued that it maintains a domiciliary account, a pounds sterling account, and a Treasury Single Account, all with the Central Bank of Nigeria. He questioned how an organisation could operate such accounts if it were fictitious, noting that opening bank accounts with false documentation is not possible in Nigerian commercial banks, let alone at the Central Bank.
He further alleged that the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, requested 48 per cent of the agency’s proposed ₦27.4 billion take-off grant, claiming this translated to a demand of ₦12.5 billion.
The Presidency has repeatedly dismissed the allegations, insisting they are unfounded.
The Office of the Chief of Staff stated that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council has no legal status and was never created by the Federal Government.
It further alleged that Adeyemi falsified official documents, including appointment letters carrying the names and signatures of top government officials, in an attempt to present himself as the Director-General of the purported council.
Authorities further alleged that the suspect operated from an office located in Phase III of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, where he reportedly held meetings with government officials, diplomats, foreign investors and members of the public while falsely presenting himself as a senior government official.
The matter drew greater public attention after it was revealed that an organisation identified in the 2026 Appropriation Act as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was allocated over ₦1.3 billion in the federal budget. The development triggered widespread scrutiny over how an organisation the Presidency has since described as non-existent was included in the national budget.
The reported allocation included approximately ₦803 million for personnel costs, ₦200 million for overhead expenses and ₦300 million earmarked for capital projects.
Adeyemi is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge involving alleged forgery, impersonation, false personation and the operation of a fictitious government agency.
The Presidency has stated that the case is pending before the court and has advised the public to disregard Adeyemi’s claims. However, Adeyemi has denied being an impostor, insisting that the court will ultimately determine the matter.
