The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the presidency to provide clarity regarding how Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly secured a N1.3bn budgetary allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act while operating from an office in the Federal Secretariat, despite claims that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) does not exist.
In a statement issued through his media office on Thursday, Atiku characterised the controversy surrounding the purported ghost agency as a scandal that should not be dismissed as a “family affair.”
The former vice president insisted that Nigerians are entitled to answers concerning a “ghost Federal Government Agency” linked to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Questions Over Undetected Operations
Atiku’s response follows President Tinubu’s advice for Nigerians to await the outcome of Adeyemi’s court case before reaching conclusions. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had previously labelled Adeyemi and the PFIPC as fraudulent, with investigations revealing the council was fictitious and that the suspect had forged documents to present himself as the agency’s Director-General.
However, Atiku questioned how an allegedly non-existent agency could have operated for months without detection.
“How did an unknown state actor manage to create and reside a federal government agency in the Federal Secretariat, which is under the supervision of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, without being detected?” he asked.
The ADC presidential candidate further demanded: “How did he secure a budgetary code and allocation of N1.3 billion in the 2026 national budget?”
High-Level Meetings and Official Engagements
According to Atiku’s statement, Adeyemi conducted meetings with senior government officials, lawmakers, diplomats, traditional rulers and prospective investors while presenting himself as head of the council.
“We must never forget in a hurry that this same man met with key officials of the state and heads of government agencies, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede. He also met with traditional rulers, diplomats and prospective investors. Prince Adeyemi operated in the full glare of the public and not as a ghost,” Atiku stated.
The Atiku Media Office argued that the presidency’s position that PFIPC was a ghost agency contradicts evidence of official communication between the National Assembly and the council.
Call for Forensic Investigation
Atiku’s office called for a forensic public investigation into the matter, insisting that Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and other officials allegedly linked to the controversy should account for their roles.
The statement noted that the presidency had not addressed allegations that Adeyemi claimed to have paid a N400m bribe to Gbajabiamila, while urging investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, who was said to be an intermediary in the alleged appointment and bribery scandal.
According to Atiku, Adeyemi’s trial should be conducted swiftly, with key officials in the executive and legislature also invited to explain their roles. He added that the matter should be resolved before the 2027 general elections.
Presidency’s Position
THE WHISTLER reported on Wednesday that the presidency advised Nigerians not to rely on Adeyemi’s claims while criminal proceedings remain before the court.
Gbajabiamila was said to have petitioned the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force in October 2025 following complaints that individuals were using forged appointment letters from his office to claim leadership positions in the PFIPC.
Onanuga said investigations established that the council did not exist and that Adeyemi allegedly forged documents, impersonated a government appointee and used the false identity in official engagements.
Investigators discovered 34 bank accounts allegedly linked to Adeyemi, including nine connected to fictitious agencies, and that he had attempted to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account using forged documents, although no government funds were paid into it.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
