The Presidency has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of any involvement in allegations surrounding a purported forged appointment into a non-existent federal agency.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency dismissed claims that Gbajabiamila issued an appointment letter to Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who is accused of presenting himself as the head of a fictitious presidential body.
The clarification followed public scrutiny over Adeyemi’s alleged creation and operation of a fake organisation known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, while also claiming affiliation with other non-existent presidential structures.
According to the Presidency, concerns emerged after government agencies discovered that the group was conducting official-looking activities, including meetings with foreign diplomats and attempts to obtain diplomatic documents for visa facilitation.
It stressed that Gbajabiamila had no role in any such appointment, noting that there is no record in his office linking him to the alleged appointment letter or approval of the purported agency.
The Presidency also explained that the Office of the Chief of Staff does not have the authority to issue appointments to government agencies, adding that such responsibilities are vested solely in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Following the allegations, security agencies, including the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force, were directed to investigate the activities of those suspected of forging official presidential documents.
Investigators reportedly recovered forged documents, official seals and correspondence allegedly used to give the fictitious council an appearance of legitimacy. Authorities also alleged that Adeyemi used the platform to engage unsuspecting individuals and institutions.
The Presidency further disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised concerns after the suspect allegedly held meetings with ambassadors without authorisation or compliance with established diplomatic protocols.
According to police findings referenced in the statement, Adeyemi allegedly operated multiple bank accounts linked to fabricated entities and used forged documents to legitimise his activities.
Authorities said the suspect was arrested in Abuja and charged alongside two others after investigations concluded that the purported council had no legal or institutional backing within the Federal Government.
Reaffirming its position, the Presidency said Gbajabiamila had no connection to the alleged fraud, describing attempts to implicate him as misleading and unsupported by official records.
It added that the matter is before the court and urged the public to refrain from speculation, noting that the judicial process will determine the culpability of the accused persons.
