Nigeria’s Presidency has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to identify and prosecute those behind an alleged fictitious government agency that reportedly operated for months using forged presidential documents.
The directive follows the growing controversy surrounding the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), which the Presidency insists never existed as a legitimate government agency. Officials allege that the group’s self-styled Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, used forged appointment letters and official documents to secure office space within the Federal Secretariat, engage with diplomats and recruit staff while presenting the organization as a federal institution.
According to the Presidency, investigations have revealed that the alleged scheme may have been aided by collaborators within government institutions. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said security agencies have now been tasked with uncovering anyone who facilitated the operations of the purported council, warning that those found culpable will face prosecution.
The case has drawn widespread attention after official documents emerged showing that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) had processed a request for office accommodation submitted in the name of the council before the Presidency publicly disowned it. The revelations have sparked fresh questions over internal oversight and how a non-existent agency was allegedly able to interact with government offices.
Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and maintains that he was legitimately appointed, while the Presidency insists he is already facing criminal charges relating to forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence. The matter is currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the government urging the public to allow the judicial process to run its course.
The scandal has intensified calls for tighter verification procedures within government institutions, as analysts argue that the case exposes weaknesses in administrative processes that could undermine public confidence if left unaddressed. Security agencies are expected to continue investigations to determine whether additional officials or accomplices played a role in the alleged fraud.
