The Presidency has accused Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew of using forged government documents to fraudulently open a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account while posing as the Director-General of a fictitious government agency.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said police investigations established that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as the head of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
According to the Presidency, forged official documents were allegedly used to deceive the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation into facilitating the opening of the CBN account. However, investigators found that no public funds were paid into the account.
The statement further alleged that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including nine opened in the names of fictitious government agencies such as the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Public Private Partnership (FIPA-APP).
Investigators also accused him of forging an appointment letter, falsely claiming to be a presidential appointee, and seeking a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enable himself and members of his team obtain United States visas.
According to the Presidency, the alleged fraud came to light after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, received complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council over the activities of a parallel agency claiming similar responsibilities.
The Chief of Staff subsequently petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force on October 17, 2025, requesting an investigation into the alleged forgery of appointment letters purportedly issued from his office.
Police arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at his Abuja office, where investigators recovered several documents and other exhibits during searches conducted at the premises and his residence in Suleja.
During interrogation, Adeyemi reportedly claimed that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola assisted him in obtaining the alleged appointment letter. Investigators, however, said Tanimola had died in a hotel fire in Abuja five days before the arrest, contradicting the suspect’s account.
“The act of the suspect constitutes criminal forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence, thereby bringing the office of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Presidency to disrepute before the public and international community.”
Following the investigation, police filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices before the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 27, 2025. The matter is scheduled for hearing on July 27.
The Presidency also dismissed Adeyemi’s recent claim that he was appointed by Gbajabiamila, describing the allegation as false and inconsistent with his earlier statements to investigators.
It urged politicians and members of the public to avoid exploiting the matter for political purposes, stressing that the case is already before the court and should be allowed to proceed through the judicial process.
