PFIPC Scandal Rocks Nigerian Presidency: Fake Agency or High-Level Cover-Up? Allegations of Bribery, Forgery, and Suspicious Death Emerge

Abuja, Nigeria , July 2026

A major controversy has erupted at the heart of Nigeria’s government, pitting a self-proclaimed agency head against the Presidency in a saga filled with claims of bribery, forged official documents, and a mysterious death. Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who has been presenting himself as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and the related Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), now finds himself at the centre of intense scrutiny.

For months, Matthew appeared to operate with significant official backing. He maintained an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Phase III, opened accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria in the agency’s name, reportedly had around 300 staff allocated, secured recognition from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and even featured in the 2026 national budget with an allocation of approximately ₦1.3 billion for salaries, overheads, and capital projects. The agency maintained a government domain website (www.pfipc.gov.ng), exchanged letters with various ministries and agencies, and engaged in high-profile activities including meetings with ministers, interactions with foreign diplomats, and public events alongside senior officials such as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

However, on June 11, 2026, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, issued a strong disclaimer declaring the PFIPC and PEAC fictitious entities unknown to the government. The Presidency later described Matthew as a con artist who built a web of deception, forging appointment letters and other documents to mislead the public and officials. Police subsequently charged him with multiple counts including forgery and false representation.

Matthew has vehemently denied the accusations and launched a counter-offensive. He claims he paid Gbajabiamila ₦400 million upfront through an intermediary, with an additional ₦200 million balance demanded to finalize his appointment. According to him, the relationship collapsed when he refused Gbajabiamila’s alleged request for 48 percent of the agency’s proposed ₦27.4 billion take-off grant. Matthew insists the agency’s existence is evidenced by its budget allocation, official correspondences, and operational records, and he has called for an independent investigation to clear the contradictions.

Adding a darker layer to the story is the reported death of Babatunde Tanimola (also referred to as Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola), described by Matthew as the key intermediary between himself and the Chief of Staff. Matthew alleges Tanimola was arrested in connection with the matter, bailed out, and then died in a fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Utako, Abuja, on October 22, 2025 shortly after a related petition was filed. Police have confirmed Tanimola’s death, stating his body was identified at a morgue and later buried. Matthew, however, has demanded a thorough independent probe into the circumstances, suggesting possible foul play and linking it to broader attempts on his own life.

Femi Gbajabiamila, a seasoned politician and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, brings his own history to the controversy. Before rising to prominence in Nigerian politics, he practiced law in the United States. In 2007, the Georgia Supreme Court suspended him for 36 months after he admitted to receiving $25,000 in settlement funds from a client in 2003, failing to disburse the money promptly, and using it for personal purposes before closing his practice and returning to Nigeria. His U.S. law license was later terminated due to these ethical violations and unpaid bar fees.

President Bola Tinubu himself has faced long-standing questions over his past in the United States. In 1993, he forfeited around $460,000 in a Chicago federal case involving bank accounts allegedly linked to a Nigerian heroin trafficking and money laundering ring. While there was no full criminal conviction, the forfeiture resolved the matter through a settlement. U.S. agencies have historically resisted full disclosure of related files.

This scandal highlights deep concerns about transparency, accountability, and potential elite impunity in Nigeria’s governance. The ease with which Matthew allegedly secured federal resources office space, budget provisions, and institutional recognition raises serious questions about internal controls and possible high-level facilitation. If the agency was entirely fraudulent, the involvement of multiple government arms suggests either systemic failures or deliberate complicity that authorities are now attempting to distance themselves from.

Critics argue the sudden disclaimer appears motivated by the breakdown in the alleged financial arrangement rather than a proactive effort to protect public institutions. The inclusion of the agency in the approved 2026 budget, despite later denials, further fuels suspicions of a cover-up to shield powerful figures.

The death of the intermediary and reports of threats against Matthew add urgency to calls for an impartial probe. Without transparent investigation by independent bodies, the affair risks further eroding public confidence in the Tinubu administration amid ongoing economic challenges.

As demands grow for President Tinubu to order a full, credible inquiry including examination of all documents, budget processes, financial transactions, and the circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death, Nigerians are watching closely to see whether accountability will prevail or if powerful interests will once again prevail over truth.

The outcome of this scandal could have significant ramifications for the administration’s credibility as it navigates governance and anti-corruption rhetoric. For now, the PFIPC saga stands as a stark reminder of the persistent shadows of corruption and opacity in Nigeria’s corridors of power.