Presidency Alleges PFIPC DG Forged Gbajabiamila’s Signature, Police Release Suspect’s Father

Presidency Alleges PFIPC DG Forged Gbajabiamila’s Signature, Police Release Suspect’s Father

The Presidency has alleged that the self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, forged the signature of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on a fake appointment letter, as the police released his father following public criticism over his arrest.

The Presidency said investigations by the police established that the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi, which purportedly originated from the Office of the Chief of Staff, contained a forged signature.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, maintained that neither Gbajabiamila nor the Presidency had any connection with the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, describing it as a non-existent government agency.

According to the Presidency, Adeyemi allegedly forged official government documents and falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the purported council. It further alleged that he operated multiple bank accounts linked to fictitious government agencies in a bid to deceive members of the public.

Adeyemi is currently facing charges bordering on forgery, impersonation and conspiracy before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the police have released Adeyemi’s father after his arrest drew criticism from legal practitioners and rights advocates.

The arrest of the elderly man had sparked outrage, with senior lawyers arguing that Nigerian law does not permit the arrest or detention of a suspect’s relative solely to compel the suspect to surrender or cooperate with investigators, except where the relative is directly implicated in the alleged offence.

The release followed growing public concern over the legality of the action, although the police have yet to issue an official statement explaining the circumstances surrounding his arrest and subsequent release.

Presidency Alleges PFIPC DG Forged Gbajabiamila’s Signature, Police Release Suspect’s Father