The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has accused the self-proclaimed Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Matthew Adeniyi Adeyemi, of forging the signature of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to obtain ₦30.8 billion from government coffers.
Adeyemi was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on a 22-count charge bordering on forgery, impersonation and fraud.
According to the ICPC, the defendant allegedly forged a letter dated March 8, 2024, with reference number SH/COS/209/A/3456, purportedly signed by Gbajabiamila and appointing him as director-general of the non-existent agency.
The commission alleged that he used the document to secure government recognition and occupy offices 2.10 to 2.20 at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, where he carried out purported official functions.
The prosecution further alleged that Adeyemi wanted obtained more than ₦27 billion to establish the fake agency and another ₦3.8 billion for personnel costs through a forged request addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
He was also accused of forging a memorandum requesting approval for self-accounting status from the Accountant-General of the Federation, as well as documents addressed to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency to secure a domain name for the purported council.
Other charges alleged that Adeyemi bribed Aminu Abdullahi, an assistant chief technical officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, with ₦210,000 to facilitate the allocation of office space.
He was also accused of giving ₦300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an official in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of two official vehicles—a Prado and a Land Cruiser Jeep.
The commission further alleged that on July 29, 2025, Adeyemi collected ₦20 million from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, as a purported project facilitation loan.
The money was allegedly connected to a ₦2.8 billion contract for furniture, electronics and the refurbishment of his supposed official residence.
The ICPC said the alleged offences, committed between 2024 and 2026, contravened provisions of the Penal Code, the Advance Fee Fraud Act and the Corrupt Practices Act.
Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all 22 counts.
Prosecuting counsel, Fatima Bardi, asked the court to fix a date for trial, while defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, made an oral application for bail.
Angulu cited the defendant’s 155 days in detention and deteriorating health, supported by a report from the police clinic.
Justice Halilu directed the defence to file a formal written bail application.
The court adjourned the case until November 9, 2026, for trial and hearing of the bail application.