PFIPC scandal: How Accountant-General exposed Adeniyi Adeyemi’s fake presidential agency

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, has told a House of Representatives committee that a forged State House letter was used to secure official recognition for the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), with the document allegedly intercepted by the agency’s director-general, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, to prevent early detection of the fraud.

Testifying before the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating the PFIPC controversy and the ₦1.3 billion allocated to the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act, Ogunjimi revealed that his office processed what appeared to be a legitimate State House correspondence in November 2024, only for investigations to later confirm the letter never originated from the Presidency.

The Accountant-General explained that his office received a letter dated November 7, 2024, bearing a State House reference number and requesting the creation of an administrative code for the Presidential Economic Advisory Council to enable budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting. Believing the request to be genuine because it appeared on official State House letterhead, the Treasury processed the application and sent its response to the State House on November 29, 2024, while copying the Budget Office of the Federation. However, Ogunjimi told lawmakers that the response never reached its intended destination because it was allegedly intercepted by Adeniyi Adeyemi. He was quoted as saying, “The letter that was written to the treasury for us to give an administrative code was responded to. Unfortunately, as events unfolded, it was discovered that that letter did not get to the State House. It was hijacked, precisely by the same man who claimed to be the director-general.” According to Ogunjimi, if the State House had received the response, officials would have immediately noticed that the original request for the administrative code was never issued by the Presidency, exposing the forgery much earlier.

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In a startling disclosure, the Accountant-General told the committee that every document submitted by the council’s promoters was fabricated, including a purported Act of the National Assembly creating the council and a fake letter of appointment allegedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President. He declared that everything presented to the Treasury leadership was fake. Investigators have since confirmed that the appointment letter claiming President Bola Tinubu had appointed Adeyemi as Director-General carried the forged signature of Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff.

Ogunjimi also clarified how government staff became attached to the fake agency, revealing that two officers from the Office of the Accountant-General had originally been deployed to the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President in 2010 and 2013. He stated, “We never knew. We believed, based on the records available to the Treasury, that those officers were still with the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President. It was when all this matter came to light that we got to know that two of our staff were actually working or had been absorbed by the fake agency.” The Treasury was never formally informed that the officers had been attached to another entity. According to Ogunjimi, as far as he was concerned, they were dealing with a new agency, not the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser. When the council later requested the deployment of five additional personnel, only three were approved because officials considered the organisation too small for the number requested.

Despite processing some administrative requests, Ogunjimi stressed that no government funds were ever released to the PFIPC. The council had requested an establishment grant of ₦27.4 billion, but this was rejected because there was no budgetary provision. He added that while two domiciliary accounts in US dollars and British pounds were opened by the Central Bank of Nigeria for inflow purposes, they never became operational because the council failed to meet regulatory conditions.

Adeyemi was arrested by operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team in Osun State on July 14 and is currently being held at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja. He faces charges including forgery, impersonation, and related offences, with a maximum prison sentence of 21 years without the option of a fine on each charge. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has also interrogated him while in detention. Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, voluntarily appeared before investigators on July 20, 2026, to provide a statement.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the ICPC to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days. The investigation will examine forged appointment letters and official government documents, the opening of multiple bank accounts using forged documents, the role of any public officer who may have facilitated the scheme, and the institutional weaknesses that were exploited.

PFIPC scandal: How Accountant-General exposed Adeniyi Adeyemi’s fake presidential agency

Police Bust Phone Theft Syndicate, Recover Nine Android Devices in Asaba

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested four suspected members of a phone theft syndicate and recovered nine brand-new Android devices in Asaba, the state capital. The suspects were apprehended on July 25, 2026, at their hideout along St. Brigid’s Road, Asaba, following a series of reported phone thefts from shops in the city and its environs. The police acted on credible intelligence and technical analysis to track down the syndicate.

The police identified the arrested suspects as Johna Omarocha, Kelvin Onogho, Nkechi Nnaji, and Ufuoma Joshua. A search of their hideout led to the recovery of nine brand-new Android phones, all still sealed in their original cartons. According to the police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects employed a coordinated method to evade detection. The syndicate members would disguise themselves as genuine customers visiting shops and supermarkets. While pretending to shop, they used newspapers to conceal mobile phones displayed in the stores before secretly walking away with them.

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Investigators further disclosed that the female suspect, Nkechi Nnaji, allegedly played a strategic role in the operation. She reportedly waybilled the stolen phones to Lagos, where the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of the devices were altered before the phones were resold—making it difficult to trace them to their rightful owners. The suspects have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the criminal enterprise. The police stated that efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate and identify the legitimate owners of the recovered phones. The four suspects remain in police custody and are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling robbery and other property-related crimes across the state. He urged members of the public, particularly shop owners and business operators, to remain vigilant, strengthen security measures around their business premises, and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the police.

Police Bust Phone Theft Syndicate, Recover Nine Android Devices in Asaba

“We Can’t Run a Country on Vibes” – Rufai Oseni Knocks Peter Obi Over Lack of Clear Policy Details

Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni has criticised NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi’s recent television appearance, saying the former Anambra governor failed to clearly explain how he would implement his campaign promises if elected in 2027. Speaking on Monday during the Arise Television Morning Show, Oseni said presidential hopefuls must move beyond broad promises and begin presenting detailed policy frameworks and practical strategies for solving Nigeria’s problems.

Referring to Obi’s interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Oseni said candidates have a responsibility to show Nigerians how they plan to address the country’s challenges. “And that’s what I did not see yesterday. I didn’t see the how. We can’t run a country on vibes,” Oseni said. He argued that with the 2027 election drawing closer, Nigerians should already have access to comprehensive manifestos and well-articulated plans from candidates seeking the country’s highest office. “By now, if elections are in January, we are now in August, we have not seen manifesto. Six months to go. Secondly, we are not seeing proper articulation of how you will do it,” he said. “In fact, I think all candidates should stop telling us I will do this. They should start telling us how. We should see an idea. It’s the idea that we want to debate, the workability of the idea, and that I didn’t see. I didn’t see a lot of that,” Oseni added.

The broadcaster also questioned the repeated campaign promise of ending insecurity without explaining the strategy behind it. According to him, candidates should provide clear methodologies instead of withholding broad policy explanations under the excuse of protecting operational details. “We will fix insecurity. How? And please, people should stop telling us ‘I don’t want to share my operational details’. Nobody say you should share your operational details, because as a candidate, you can’t have operational details. Operational details are specific to operations, hence the name operational details. Nobody say you should share that. What we are saying is overarching details, methodology, how you are going to do it. That’s just it,” he said.

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Oseni further stated that he expected candidates to explain their technical plans for key sectors, particularly electricity, rather than making general promises. “I mean, these are things as regards technicality and methodology. These are the things I want to hear from our candidates. Power sector, what would you do as regards them about creating thousands of megawatts? Major problem in the power sector today is transmission. We have 13,000 installed capacity, but why are we not seeing more than 5000 megawatts capacity for transmission? Are you going to put investment there? Are you going to raise the equity for the investment? I mean, those are paramount questions. So please, we want to see more of those details,” Oseni said.

Oseni’s remarks came a day after Obi appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he outlined his vision for Nigeria in a two-hour wide-ranging interview. The NDC presidential candidate promised to personally lead the fight against insecurity, build a production-driven economy, reduce the cost of governance, strengthen anti-corruption efforts, and serve only one four-year term if elected president.

On security, Obi faulted the current approach to combating insecurity, insisting that Nigeria requires more committed and visible leadership. He said unlike the present arrangement, he would personally coordinate the country’s response to insecurity, regularly visit troubled communities, and ensure that security agencies receive adequate equipment, funding, and operational support. “I will personally lead the fight against insecurity. I will be visible, engaged and directly involved. I will visit affected communities and ensure that our security architecture is properly equipped, adequately funded, and fully supported,” Obi stated. According to him, poverty remains the biggest driver of insecurity, and lasting peace cannot be achieved without massive investments in education, job creation, and economic opportunities for young Nigerians. “You cannot create widespread poverty and expect peace. The more people are pushed into poverty, the greater the insecurity. Education and job creation remain the most sustainable solutions,” he said.
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On the economy, Obi said his administration would abandon what he described as a consumption-driven model and replace it with a production-based economy anchored on agriculture, manufacturing, and support for small businesses. “Nigeria must move from consumption to production. Agriculture alone can generate more revenue than crude oil if properly developed. We have enough arable land not only to feed ourselves but also to become a major exporter,” he said. He maintained that Nigeria possessed sufficient human and natural resources to become a major global producer of agricultural commodities if appropriate policies were implemented. He added that government under his leadership would prioritise support for farmers and manufacturers, improve access to affordable credit, and create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Obi also criticised the implementation of the fuel subsidy removal policy, saying although he supports ending the subsidy regime, the process should have been gradual, transparent, and accompanied by clear communication with Nigerians. “The problem is not simply removing subsidy. Government must explain to Nigerians what is being saved and where those savings are being invested. Economic reforms must translate into improved living conditions for ordinary citizens,” Obi was quoted as saying. He maintained that while some macroeconomic indicators might have improved, the benefits had not reached average Nigerians. “Many macroeconomic indicators may appear positive, but ordinary Nigerians are not feeling the impact. Poverty has increased, government revenue has grown, borrowing has continued and citizens have endured severe hardship without corresponding benefits,” he stated.

The former Anambra governor also said economic reforms would only succeed if government demonstrated equal determination in tackling graft. He called for greater transparency in public finance, insisting that Nigerians deserve detailed explanations whenever government grants waivers, incurs major expenditure, or makes significant financial decisions. “If government can implement painful economic reforms with determination, it should demonstrate the same resolve in fighting corruption. Citizens have the right to know how public resources are being managed,” he stated. Obi also promised to reduce what he described as the excessive cost of governance, saying scarce national resources should be redirected from official luxuries to education, healthcare, and infrastructure. He criticised expenditure on luxury government assets, including aircraft, stating that leaders must demonstrate prudent management of public resources. “There is too much waste in government. Before buying luxury assets, we should ask whether the same resources could build hospitals, schools, or critical infrastructure. Leadership is about setting priorities,” he said.

Obi reiterated his long-held position against maintaining a publicly funded Office of the First Lady, describing it as a non-constitutional creation. “My wife will naturally perform ceremonial duties as the president’s spouse, but there will be no separate government bureaucracy or publicly funded Office of the First Lady. Nigerians elected the president, not the president’s spouse,” Obi said. Reaffirming his earlier promise to serve only one term if elected, Obi said leadership was about keeping one’s word and delivering measurable results. “I do not need more than four years to put Nigeria on the right path. If elected, I will serve only one term of four years, not one day longer,” he declared. He also stressed that his greatest partners would be Nigeria’s young people, saying the objective is not simply to win an election but to build a Nigeria that works for everyone. Obi also defended his personal integrity, insisting that all his assets were lawfully declared while in office as governor, and challenged anyone with evidence of wrongdoing during his tenure to make it public.

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