A police interim investigation has uncovered an alleged forgery and impersonation network linked to a fictitious government agency known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The report followed a petition from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, which alerted the Inspector-General of Police on October 17, 2025, over alleged forged appointment letters purportedly issued from the Chief of Staff’s office.
According to the report, investigators discovered forged documents bearing fake signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, which were allegedly used to create the impression that the PFIPC was a legitimate federal government agency.
Police identified Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew as the principal suspect, alleging that he posed as the Director-General of the PFIPC while operating from an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
Investigators said the suspect allegedly held meetings with Nigerians and foreign nationals in that capacity and wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting a Note Verbale to the United States Embassy to facilitate visa applications for individuals presented as staff of the council.
Police said Mathew was arrested on October 27, 2025, at the office where he allegedly operated.
Searches conducted at the office and his residence in APC Quarters, Suleja, Niger State, reportedly led to the recovery of suspected forged appointment letters, official letterheads, correspondence to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and other materials relevant to the investigation.
Police Trace Alleged Fake Appointment Letter
In his statement, Mathew allegedly told investigators that Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola helped him obtain the appointment letter naming him Director-General of the PFIPC.
However, police said investigations revealed that Tanimola had died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel, Utako, Abuja, before the suspect’s arrest.
According to the report, interviews with Tanimola’s sister, the hotel proprietor, officials of the National Hospital, Abuja, and St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, confirmed the circumstances surrounding his death.
Investigators also obtained documents from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and questioned officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation as part of the inquiry.
Three staff members posted from the Accountant-General’s office to the PFIPC office reportedly informed investigators that although they were assigned there on August 28, 2025, they carried out no official duties during their posting.
Financial Investigation Reveals 34 Bank Accounts
With support from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), investigators traced 34 active bank accounts allegedly linked to the suspect across several commercial banks.
Police alleged that nine of the accounts were opened in the names of entities presented as government agencies. The report further claimed that an account was also opened with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Office of the Accountant-General under the name of the PFIPC.
Investigators concluded that the PFIPC is a fictitious organisation with no legal recognition within Nigeria’s government structure.
The report alleged that forged documents were used to impersonate a federal government official, correspond with MDAs and conduct official engagements under the name of the non-existent agency.
Police said the alleged offences could include forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Two additional suspects, identified only as Femi and Anu, remain at large.
Among the recommendations contained in the report are the freezing of all 34 bank accounts linked to the suspect, the deactivation of the PFIPC account with the Central Bank, and forwarding the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions after pending forensic examinations and additional witness statements are completed.
The report added that investigations remain ongoing, with police still awaiting the complainant’s formal statement and specimen signatures from the Office of the Chief of Staff for forensic analysis.
Adeyemi Calls for Independent Probe into Alleged Budget Insertion
Meanwhile, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to establish an independent panel to investigate the alleged N1.3 billion budget insertion in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
In the letter dated July 13, 2026, Adeyemi praised the President for directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations but argued that a broader, independent inquiry would inspire greater public confidence.
He maintained that because the allegations involve institutions within the executive branch, an investigation conducted solely by government agencies could raise concerns about impartiality.
Adeyemi also claimed he had not surrendered to authorities because of fears for his personal safety, alleging he had received intelligence suggesting his life could be at risk.
He questioned official accounts surrounding the death of Dolapo Tanimola, alleging there had been no independent public verification of the reported fire incident at Kachi Hotel. He further claimed the hotel was later demolished by unidentified armed individuals, alleging that the action may have destroyed potential evidence.
These allegations have not been independently verified, and the relevant authorities had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of reporting.
Adeyemi proposed that the independent panel include representatives from civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), independent media organisations, international financial institutions, human rights groups, diplomatic missions, as well as the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as technical partners.
He specifically suggested organisations such as Amnesty International, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.
Adeyemi said he was prepared to submit documentary evidence and cooperate fully with investigators once such a panel is established.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had not issued an official response to the requests contained in the letter, while the ICPC investigation into the alleged budget insertion remains ongoing.
