The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has accused Prince Matthew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly paraded himself as Director-General of a non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), of forging a letter bearing the signature of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to facilitate access to ₦30.8 billion in public funds.
Adeyemi was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on a 22-count charge bordering on forgery, impersonation and fraud.
The commission alleged that on March 8, 2024, the defendant forged a letter with reference number SH/COS/209/A/3456, purportedly issued by Gbajabiamila, appointing him as director-general of the fictitious council.
According to the prosecution, Adeyemi allegedly used the forged appointment letter to secure government recognition and occupy offices 2.10 to 2.20 at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, where he purportedly conducted official activities.
The ICPC further alleged that the defendant sought to obtain more than ₦27 billion for the establishment of the purported agency and an additional ₦3.8 billion for personnel costs by submitting requests for the respective sums to be included in the government budget. The requests were allegedly routed through the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
Adeyemi was also accused of forging a memorandum requesting approval for self-accounting status from the Accountant-General of the Federation, allegedly to enable the fictitious agency to operate within the government’s financial system. He was further alleged to have forged documents addressed to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency to obtain a domain name for the council.
In another count, the prosecution alleged that Adeyemi offered ₦210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an assistant chief technical officer in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to facilitate the allocation of office space.
He was also accused of giving ₦300,000 to Ogaba Harry, an official in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to facilitate the release of two official vehicles—a Prado and a Land Cruiser Jeep.
The commission further alleged that on July 29, 2025, Adeyemi collected ₦20 million from Oyekunle Gbenga, managing director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, as a purported project facilitation loan connected to a proposed ₦2.8 billion contract for furniture, electronics and the refurbishment of his supposed official residence.
The ICPC said the alleged offences, which occurred between 2024 and 2026, violated provisions of the Penal Code, the Advance Fee Fraud Act of 2006 and the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000.
Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to all 22 counts when they were read to him.
Prosecuting counsel, Fatima Bardi, subsequently asked the court to fix a date for trial, while defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, made an oral application for bail.
Angulu reportedly cited his client’s 155 days in detention and deteriorating health, presenting a medical report from the police clinic in support of the application.
Justice Halilu directed the defence to submit a formal written bail application before the court could consider the request.
The judge adjourned the matter until November 9, 2026, for trial and hearing of the bail application.