Nigeria’s Presidency is facing renewed scrutiny after Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi was charged with conspiracy, forgery and impersonation over an alleged fake government agency.
Adeyemi is accused of presenting himself as Director-General of a non-existent body called the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and using forged documents to give it official legitimacy.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for an independent investigation, saying the Presidency has no constitutional authority to clear anyone involved in the matter.
Fake agency allegations
Police charged Adeyemi before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 8 counts, including conspiracy, forgery of presidential appointment documents, forgery of official State House letterheads and impersonation.
Investigators allege he forged an appointment letter claiming to have been issued by President Bola Tinubu and signed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The Presidency said Gbajabiamila had formally petitioned security agencies after discovering that forged documents were allegedly being used to claim appointments to fictitious government bodies.
Adeyemi was arrested on 27 October 2025 at an office inside the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja. He is due back in court on 27 July 2026.
Bank accounts and diplomatic contacts
Police said Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including several allegedly opened in the names of non-existent government agencies.
Investigators also said he fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account by using forged government documents. The Presidency said no government funds were transferred into the account.
Police recommended that all identified accounts be frozen pending prosecution.
The case also raised concerns after Adeyemi allegedly hosted foreign ambassadors at a hotel in Abuja without informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials said this breached diplomatic protocols.
He is also accused of writing to the Foreign Affairs Ministry to request diplomatic support for US visas for purported staff members of the fake agency.
Presidency distances itself
The Presidency denied that Adeyemi or the alleged council had any official status under the Tinubu administration.
It said the case showed an attempt to use forged documents to undermine the credibility of the Presidency and official government communication.
Officials also warned politicians and members of the public against using Adeyemi’s claims to attack Gbajabiamila before the case is heard in court.
Falana calls for independent probe
Falana said the Presidency cannot exonerate anyone in a matter involving allegations of fraud and corruption.
He argued that the police and anti-corruption agencies should investigate both Adeyemi and Gbajabiamila independently.
He also questioned how an allegedly fictitious agency could reportedly be linked to a Central Bank account and budgetary references, saying the government must explain the matter clearly to Nigerians.
Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and accused Gbajabiamila of making contradictory statements about the agency. He also alleged that the dispute involved demands for payments and a share of a claimed multi-billion-naira take-off grant.
Gbajabiamila has denied issuing any appointment letter and the Presidency maintains that the body Adeyemi claimed to lead does not exist.
Falana and Adeyemi have both called for an independent investigation into the case.
