Full Breakdown
Nigerian Man Charged with Forgery Over Fake Government Agency
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A federal high court in Abuja heard charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi for forging documents and impersonating the head of a non-existent agency called the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). Prosecutors listed eight counts of forgery and impersonation. Adeyemi entered a not-guilty plea and was remanded to detention pending his next scheduled court appearance on October 12.
Background & Context
Beginning in 2024, Adeyemi presented himself as director-general of the PFIPC, an entity the presidency says it never created or authorized. Using fabricated appointment letters, he secured office space inside the federal secretariat, obtained a budget allocation of roughly $1 million, and attempted to open accounts at the Central Bank of Nigeria. The agency reportedly held meetings with foreign investors and even submitted a visa request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, reportedly alerted police and domestic intelligence in October of the previous year, prompting an investigation into the fraudulent operation.
Official Statements & Responses
President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson confirmed that the chief of staff had first raised the issue, describing the PFIPC as a “forgery of official appointment letters.” The spokesperson added that Adeyemi has a “history of fraudulent misrepresentation.” A government commission later reported finding no evidence linking Gbajabiamila to Adeyemi’s appointment and stated that the chief of staff’s office never issued any letters. The same commission noted that no official correspondence exists between the two men. Tinubu also ordered a separate probe into a second alleged fake entity, the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, which was likewise operating from a government building.
Data & Statistics
- Eight criminal charges filed against Adeyemi.
- $1 million allocated to the bogus PFIPC in the current fiscal year.
- Adeyemi alleged he paid a 400 million-naira (? $300,000) bribe through a proxy to secure his position; this claim remains unverified.
What’s Next
Adeyemi remains in detention until his next hearing on October 12, when the court will consider further proceedings. Authorities continue to examine the PFIPC case and have launched a separate investigation into the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, signaling broader scrutiny of fraudulent agencies within Nigeria’s public sector.