A combined photo of President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila and Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew
By Victory Oghene
The Presidency has dismissed allegations linking the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the purported appointment of an individual into a non-existent federal agency, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said Gbajabiamila neither appointed nor authorised Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew to head any presidential council.
The clarification followed public concerns over the activities of Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the head of a fictitious body known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and claimed affiliation with other non-existent presidential organisations.
According to the Presidency, concerns arose after the group allegedly conducted official-looking activities, including meetings with foreign diplomats and attempts to obtain diplomatic documents for visa-related purposes.
The statement stressed that no record existed in the Office of the Chief of Staff showing that Gbajabiamila issued any appointment letter or approved the establishment of the alleged council.
It also explained that the Office of the Chief of Staff has no constitutional or administrative authority to make appointments into federal agencies, noting that such responsibilities fall under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Presidency disclosed that the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force were directed to investigate the matter, leading to the recovery of documents, official seals and correspondence allegedly used to give the fake organisation an appearance of legitimacy.
It added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised concerns after Adeyemi allegedly held unauthorised meetings with foreign diplomats in the name of the Federal Government.
According to the statement, investigators also uncovered multiple bank accounts allegedly linked to fabricated organisations and the use of forged government documents in furtherance of the scheme.
The suspect was subsequently arrested in Abuja and arraigned alongside two others, while investigations reportedly confirmed that the purported council had no legal recognition within the Federal Government.
The Presidency maintained that Gbajabiamila had no connection with the alleged fraud and urged the public to refrain from speculation, noting that the matter is already before the court for determination.
