Africa-Press – Nigeria. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the country’s anti-corruption commission to investigate how a fake government agency operated openly within his administration and nearly obtained around one million dollars of public funds. The agency, named the “Presidential Council for Promoting Foreign Intervention,” is a nonexistent entity under Nigerian law; nonetheless, it was allocated approximately 1.3 billion naira (about 944 thousand dollars) in the current year’s budget, with its offices reportedly located within the federal secretariat in Abuja, the same complex that houses real government ministries.
The Nigerian presidency stated in a released statement that Tinubu directed the “Independent Commission for Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses” to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the alleged council and all related matters, with the investigation to be completed and a detailed report submitted to him within 30 days. The statement clarified that the directive came after the discovery of this fictitious council, which was never established by the federal government and has no basis in any law, presidential instrument, or executive approval. A person named Adeniyi Ademi Matthew falsely presented himself as its director-general and claimed to have been appointed by the presidency.
According to the same statement, the issues to be investigated include forged appointment letters and other official government documents, the use of false claims of presidential appointment to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including facilitating visas, opening multiple bank accounts in the names of fictitious government agencies, identifying vulnerabilities in governmental and institutional procedures that were exploited, and recommending immediate measures to prevent the recurrence of such abuses.
The presidency’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, described Ademi as a “fraudster” with a history of false claims, emphasizing that no public funds were actually disbursed, according to “Africa News.”
How Was the Case Exposed?
According to the British newspaper “The Guardian,” the existence of the fake agency was revealed last October when the Chief of Staff to the Presidency, Femi Gbajabiamila, sent a letter to the police claiming that his signature, official seals, and reference numbers had been forged by Ademi, who was pretending that the presidency had appointed him to head the council. The newspaper added that the police issued an eight-count charge against Ademi and two others, including criminal forgery, impersonation, and fraud, with a court in Abuja set to hear the case on July 27.
“The Guardian” reported a statement from the presidency indicating that Ademi met with ambassadors without the knowledge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and misled the Office of the Accountant General to open accounts for the council at the central bank and 33 commercial banks. Local reports suggest that Ademi claimed that Gbajabiamila handed him an appointment letter, which the latter denies, asserting that he does not know him and has never met him.
The newspaper noted that the presidency and supporters of the ruling party mentioned that Ademi had previously introduced himself in 2017 as the elected president of a youth body he called the “Global Youth Organization,” claiming it was affiliated with the United Nations, only to later reveal that it was not part of the international organization.
Political Pressures Ahead of Elections
A proposal in the Senate for an independent investigation into the matter failed, while the House of Representatives formed a committee to interrogate Budget and Economic Planning Minister Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, according to “The Guardian.” The newspaper stated that the scandal increases pressure on Tinubu (74 years old) ahead of the general elections scheduled for next January, as it brings the issue of rampant corruption in Africa’s largest economy back to the forefront, raising questions among critics about how a nonexistent agency found its way into the national budget in the first place.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a candidate competing against Tinubu in the elections, called for the formation of an independent investigation committee that includes neutral parties from civil society leaders, opposition parties, and the Nigerian Bar Association. His spokesperson, Frank Shaibu, stated: “Nigerians deserve the full truth, not carefully crafted press releases,” adding: “We demand a truly independent investigation that follows the evidence wherever it leads. No sacred cows, no political protection, and no selective justice.”
