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Inside the Fake Agency Scandal: Staff Detail How Adeyemi’s ‘Presidential Council’ Operated Without Work or Direction

Published

3 months ago

July 4, 2026

Reps Panel Traces 58 Bank Accounts, 12 Illegal Entities in PFIPC Fraud Network

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi

Inside the Fake Agency Scandal: Staff Detail How Adeyemi’s ‘Presidential Council’ Operated Without Work or Direction

Fresh testimony from three senior civil servants reveals the inner workings of the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) — a phantom agency that allegedly secured N1.3 billion in the national budget and operated from the Federal Secretariat for months. At the centre of the storm is Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is facing an eight-count charge of forgery and impersonation over claims he created a fake government agency, forged presidential appointment letters, and falsely presented himself as its Director-General. The Federal Government has distanced itself from the council, with the Presidency insisting no such body exists. But Adeyemi has denied all allegations, vowing to clear his name in court and publicly accusing Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, of corruption. Now, previously undisclosed testimonies from staff deployed to the council paint a stark picture of a “do‑nothing” office where civil servants were left idle and confused.

Three senior officials — Ojo Victor, 55, an Assistant Chief Accountant; Omeh Amarachukwu, 40, an internal auditor; and Wakili Saidu, 45, an audit officer — were deployed from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to the PFIPC in August 2025. In statements to police investigators on November 10, 2025, they described a workplace that raised immediate red flags. According to court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Adeyemi had written to the Accountant-General on April 4, 2025, requesting staff to fill positions including Principal Accountant, Accountant I, and Principal Auditor. The request was approved, and the three officers were posted on August 28. But when they resumed work on September 8, they were given a shared open office and — startlingly — no assignments, no work schedules, and no formal documentation.

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Victor told investigators, “We are three officers posted at the same time, and when we resumed on 8 September, the three of us were given an open office that the three of us were sitting down without doing anything.” He added, “I have not been documented, and no schedule has been given to me since my assumption, which I find very strange.” Wakili Saidu reported, “Since then, there has been no correspondence between me and the DG.” With nothing to do, attendance dwindled. Victor said he went in once or twice a week “just to show our face.” Amarachukwu said he only reported once a week because “we have nothing doing.” Saidu went in three days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. All three said they had never heard of the PFIPC before receiving their posting letters.

The scandal deepened when it emerged that the disputed council appears in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a N1,302,978,784 allocation. According to Daily Trust, the allocation appears on pages 50 and 51 of the budget, with N1,002,978,784 for recurrent expenditure and N300 million for capital projects. Budget line items include salary at N573,260,187, allowances and social contribution at N229,718,596, and logistics for hosting World Investment Summit 2026 at N182,500,000. The civic technology organisation BudgIT has called for an independent investigation, noting that the PFIPC did not appear as a budgeted entity in the 2023, 2024, or 2025 budgets, and asked how the agency got an office space at the Federal Secretariat and operated for over a year. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also demanded answers, questioning who prepared the budget estimates bearing its name, which ministry submitted them, and which officials defended those estimates before the National Assembly.

The Presidency has strongly defended Gbajabiamila, stating that he was the one who first alerted security agencies to the alleged forgery. In a statement, Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga said the Chief of Staff petitioned the DSS and Police on October 17, 2025, after the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council complained about a rival body operating “at cross‑purposes” with it. Gbajabiamila wrote in his petition, “The attention of this office has been drawn to the activities of certain individuals and groups engaged in the forgery of official appointment letters purportedly issued from my office.” According to the Presidency, police investigations established that Adeyemi forged his appointment letter and official letterheads, operated 34 bank accounts including nine in the names of fictitious agencies, fraudulently opened a CBN account by misleading the OAGF, and solicited a Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain US visas for staff. Onanuga noted that Adeyemi has a “history of fraudulent misrepresentation,” including a 2016 incident where he falsely claimed to be an “ambassador” for a UN‑affiliated group. Adeyemi, who is on police bail, is due in court on July 27.

The case is now before the Federal High Court in Abuja, and the political fallout continues. The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for Gbajabiamila’s suspension pending investigation. Meanwhile, BudgIT and Atiku are demanding a thorough probe into how the phantom agency secured a budget allocation. For now, the testimonies of three bewildered civil servants remain a powerful window into one of Nigeria’s most extraordinary governance scandals.

Inside the Fake Agency Scandal: Staff Detail How Adeyemi’s ‘Presidential Council’ Operated Without Work or Direction

Related Topics:Fake Agency Presidential Council

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Police Identify 27-Year-Old NYSC Graduate Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend

Published

23 minutes ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa

Police Identify 27-Year-Old NYSC Graduate Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend

The Enugu State Police Command has identified a 27-year-old woman allegedly killed by her boyfriend as Chinyere Rosemary Ugwu, a graduate of Medical Laboratory Science from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.

Ugwu, who recently completed her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, 30-year-old Okpara Chibuike Emmanuel, in Enugu.

The suspect was arrested after the discovery of Ugwu’s remains at his residence in the Olympic Layout, One-Day area of Enugu.

According to the police, the incident allegedly occurred on September 19, 2026. Ugwu’s remains were reportedly discovered after neighbours became suspicious of an offensive odour coming from the suspect’s apartment.

The police said neighbours forced the door open and found the deceased’s remains concealed in the toilet. Emmanuel was reportedly apprehended by residents before police officers arrived and took him into custody.

The command had earlier alleged that an argument between the couple over claims relating to HIV infection preceded the incident. Police said the suspect told investigators that he struck Ugwu on the head with a pestle during the confrontation.

However, the circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation, and the suspect’s account has not been established as fact by a court.

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Ugwu’s remains were reportedly taken to a mortuary for preservation and autopsy as investigators work to establish the circumstances and cause of her death. The police have not announced the outcome of the autopsy.

In a fresh update, the Enugu police command said investigators had established the identity of the deceased and identified her parents and siblings, who were subsequently interviewed as part of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, also met with members of Ugwu’s family and the suspect. The commissioner assured the family that the command would conduct a thorough investigation and pursue justice in accordance with the law.

The family has also reportedly called for a comprehensive investigation, questioning the suggestion that the alleged killing should be attributed solely to an HIV-related disagreement.

The police said Emmanuel has been interviewed by investigators as efforts continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding Ugwu’s death.

The command urged members of the public, particularly women, to remain vigilant in their relationships and when meeting people they know. It advised people to keep trusted relatives or friends informed about their whereabouts and to take warning signs in potentially dangerous situations seriously.

The police said further information would be released as the investigation progresses.

Police Identify 27-Year-Old NYSC Graduate Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend

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Lagos Coastal Road Crash: One Killed, Three Seriously Injured

Published

38 minutes ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos Coastal Road Crash: One Killed, Three Seriously Injured

Lagos Coastal Road Crash: One Killed, Three Seriously Injured

One person has been killed and three others seriously injured in a road accident on the Lagos Coastal Road inward Eko Hotel in Lagos.

The crash, which occurred on Friday, involved a grey Lexus Jeep 350 with registration number LSD 554 KV.

Preliminary information from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) indicated that the vehicle lost control, crashed into a roadside pole and overturned.

The impact left one person dead, while three others sustained serious injuries. The injured victims were reportedly trapped in the wreckage before passersby assisted in bringing them out.

They were subsequently taken to Duck-Yard Hospital within the Military Zone for medical treatment.

LASTMA officials who responded to the scene secured the area and coordinated the emergency operation. Security personnel from the Victoria Island area also assisted in managing the situation.

The damaged Lexus was later removed from the road to prevent further danger to motorists and help restore normal traffic movement along the affected section.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and urged motorists to exercise greater caution while using the road.

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He advised motorists to avoid excessive speed, reckless driving and other dangerous practices that could result in loss of vehicle control.

The latest Lagos Coastal Road accident has also renewed attention on road safety along the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, particularly as construction and traffic movement continue on parts of the route.

Federal officials have previously raised concerns about motorists exceeding the recommended speed on the highway. However, authorities have not established that speeding was the direct cause of Friday’s Lexus crash.

The incident follows another fatal crash reported on the Coastal Road in August, when a trailer reportedly lost control and collided with a Toyota mini truck, leaving one person dead and two others injured.

LASTMA urged motorists to remain vigilant and comply with traffic regulations while using the Lagos Coastal Highway. Members of the public were also advised to report road crashes, vehicle breakdowns and obstructions through the agency’s toll-free emergency line, 3367.

Lagos Coastal Road Crash: One Killed, Three Seriously Injured

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Nigeria Launches 11-Character Digital Postcode System for Every Addressable Building

Published

7 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani

Nigeria Launches 11-Character Digital Postcode System for Every Addressable Building

The Federal Government has launched Nigeria’s National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System, giving addressable buildings across the country unique 11-character digital postcodes linked to their precise geographical locations.

The system was officially launched on October 1, 2026, through the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s addressing infrastructure and make it easier to identify homes, businesses, schools, farms, offices and other locations.

The new digital postcode system uses Geographic Information System technology to provide a precise and verifiable digital reference for buildings. Unlike the traditional postcode system, which generally identifies broader geographical areas, the new system is designed to pinpoint individual addressable buildings.

The 11-character code is organised across five geographical levels: state, local government area, district, area and building. The characters progressively narrow the location down to a specific building.

The Federal Government said the system is designed to address longstanding problems associated with inaccurate or incomplete addresses, including missed deliveries and difficulties faced by emergency responders, businesses and government agencies.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said accurate location information was essential to improving commerce, public services and economic participation.

Tijani urged Nigerians to find, save and use their digital postcodes, saying the system could help businesses reach customers, enable families to provide precise locations during emergencies and support government agencies in delivering services.

The government estimates that Nigeria loses between ₦50 billion and ₦80 billion annually through missed and failed deliveries associated with poor addressing. Officials said the impact extends beyond logistics to emergency response, security operations, financial services, business activities and government planning.

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The NIPOST digital postcode belongs to a building rather than an individual. This means the code remains associated with the property even when residents or businesses occupying it change.

The new system is also designed to complement existing street addresses and mapping services rather than replace them. Users can provide their digital postcode alongside their conventional address when receiving deliveries or accessing services.

Nigerians can search for their postcode through the official Digital Postcode platform or mobile application. Users can search for their building or use location services to identify the building where they are.

Where a building cannot be found, users can submit its location and address details for verification and assignment of a postcode.

The service allows individuals to find, save and share their postcodes with family members, businesses, delivery companies and other service providers that require accurate location information.

Organisations can also integrate the digital postcode into their platforms for functions including address verification, customer and merchant onboarding, logistics, deliveries and location-based services.

The system is expected to have significant applications in e-commerce and last-mile delivery, where inaccurate addresses and dependence on informal landmarks can cause delays and additional costs.

Emergency response agencies are also expected to benefit from the system because responders can use a standard location reference to identify specific buildings during emergencies.

Security agencies, financial institutions, government departments and other organisations can similarly use the location data for planning, verification and service delivery.

The launch followed preparatory work by NIPOST, including a nationwide postcode validation exercise aimed at improving the accuracy and reliability of location data ahead of the national rollout.

The Federal Government has described the initiative as an important part of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, with potential applications in logistics, e-commerce, emergency services, security, financial inclusion, urban planning and digital public services.

NIPOST is encouraging Nigerians to identify their 11-character digital postcode and begin using it whenever precise location information is required.

The rollout is expected to provide Nigeria with a common digital location reference and reduce some of the challenges associated with identifying and reaching specific buildings across the country.