Nigeria Investigates Fake Federal Agency in Government HQ

A fictitious federal entity, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), was allocated 1.3 billion naira (£705,248) in Nigeria’s 2026 budget, sparking a political furore. The discovery of this fake agency has intensified scrutiny of corruption within the government, particularly in the lead-up to the January general election.

The fraudulent operation came to light in October when Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff, filed a complaint with the police. Gbajabiamila alleged that his signature, along with official seals and reference numbers, had been forged. The individual accused of these forgeries is Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who had been presenting himself as appointed by the presidency to lead the PFIPC.

This incident has triggered a high-level investigation ordered by the President. The existence of a fake agency operating within government headquarters, complete with allocated funding and office space, raises significant questions about internal oversight and security protocols. The scale of the alleged fraud, involving substantial budgetary allocation, underscores the potential for deep-seated corruption.