“Don’t swallow his narrative hook, line and sinker” Presidency warns politicians
The Presidency has vehemently denied the existence of a Presidential Economic Advisory Council allegedly headed by one Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew as Director-General, describing the entire setup as an elaborate forgery orchestrated by a “con artist.”
In a strong-worded statement on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga accused Adeyemi of forging official documents from the Chief of Staff’s office and warned politicians weaponising the claim against Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to desist.
The Scheme Unravelled
The scandal first came to light following complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council that another government agency appeared to be working at cross-purposes with it.
Gbajabiamila, on October 17, 2025, wrote to the DSS and Police, requesting investigations into “fraudsters and imposters” forging appointment letters purportedly from his office.
The fake documents bore falsified signatures, reference numbers and seals, claiming leadership appointments to non-existent entities specifically the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.”
How He Operated
The suspect, Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, allegedly:
· Hosted meetings with foreigners and Nigerians at the Federal Secretariat Complex
· Requested a note verbal from the Foreign Affairs Ministry to facilitate US visas for staff
· Opened 34 bank accounts, nine in the names of fictitious agencies
· Misled the Office of the Accountant-General to open a CBN account (no government funds were transferred)
The Arrest
Police arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at his Secretariat office in Abuja, recovering vital documents from his office and Suleja home.
In his statement, Adeyemi claimed one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola helped procure the fake appointment letter. However, police discovered Tanimola had died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Abuja on October 22 five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.
Charges and Trial
Police filed an eight-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 27, 2025, against Adeyemi and two accomplices for:
· Criminal forgery
· Impersonation
· Obtaining by false pretence
He is due in court on July 27.
History of Deception
The Presidency revealed that Adeyemi has a history of fraudulent misrepresentation. In November 2016, he paraded himself as an ambassador and President-General of the World Youth Organisation (WYO), claiming affiliation with the UN, which the UN later denied.
Presidency’s Warning
“Politicians and members of the public who are weaponising Adeyemi’s claim against the Chief of Staff should refrain from swallowing his narrative hook, line and sinker. They are advised to await the trial and the court’s judgement, as comments made today are sub judice.”
