Boss of fake government agency arrested in Nigeria after weeks on the run

The head of a bogus government agency formed in the Nigerian president’s office has been detained in Osun State following a trial court warrant for forgery and impersonation.

Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who presented himself as the Director-General of the so‑called Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), was captured after weeks in hiding. The arrest came after the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order on Tuesday, after he didn’t attend a hearing.

The case erupted in mid‑July when the presidential office announced a corruption investigation into the fabricated agency. The investigation revealed forged appointment letters purporting to originate from President Tinubu’s chief of staff and an alleged $950,000 budget in the 2026 Appropriations Act that never materialised.

Police analysts confirmed the signature on the appointment letter was forged and the PFIPC never opened a central bank account or received public funds. Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and, in a local interview, said his life was in danger. His lawyer stated that the suspect was prevented from attending court by security concerns and that Adeyemi had written an open letter to President Tinubu expressing those fears.

Following the arrest, the suspect is taken to the Abuja police headquarters for further interrogation. Civil society groups, opposition politicians and lawyers have called for an independent inquiry into the scandal.