The Presidency has dismissed allegations linking the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to an alleged appointment-for-cash scheme, describing the man behind the claims, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, as an impostor and a suspected fraudster already facing prosecution.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the allegations were baseless and formed part of a pattern of fraudulent activities allegedly carried out by Matthew.
Matthew, who claims to head the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council, had accused Gbajabiamila of demanding ₦27.4 billion from the take-off grant of the agency and collecting ₦400 million through intermediaries to facilitate his appointment as director-general.
He also alleged that a dispute over an outstanding ₦200 million led to threats against his life.
He had called for an independent investigation and urged the Chief of Staff to step aside while the matter was being examined.
Rejecting the allegations, the Presidency said security agencies had been investigating Matthew since October 2025 after the Office of the Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force over alleged forgery of official appointment letters and impersonation of government officials.
According to the petition, forged documents bearing the authority of the Chief of Staff’s office had surfaced, prompting concerns about attempts to undermine the integrity of the Presidency.
The statement added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also raised concerns after Matthew allegedly convened a meeting with ambassadors in Abuja without the ministry’s approval.
It said enquiries by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation further confirmed that the purported agency had no official recognition.
Responding to the enquiries, Gbajabiamila reportedly denied appointing Matthew or having any connection with the organisation.
“Prince Adeniyi Matthew, Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, is unknown to any office, nor do we have any dealings with the said council,” the Chief of Staff stated.
He also described Matthew’s appointment letter as fake and directed security agencies to investigate both the individual and the organisation he claimed to represent.
The Presidency said police investigations found that the agency was fictitious and alleged that Matthew forged appointment letters and other government documents while presenting himself as a presidential appointee.
Investigators reportedly searched his office in Abuja and residence in Suleja, where documents linked to the alleged fraud were recovered.
Police also alleged that Matthew operated 34 bank accounts, including nine opened in the names of non-existent government agencies, and fraudulently obtained a Central Bank of Nigeria account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
According to the police report cited in the statement, the suspect’s actions amounted to forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence, bringing the Presidency into disrepute.
The Presidency said Matthew and two others were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025 on an eight-count charge. The case is scheduled to continue on July 27.
It added that the latest allegations against Gbajabiamila were made while Matthew was on police bail and contradicted earlier statements he gave to investigators.
The Presidency noted that the Chief of Staff had already issued a public disclaimer on June 8, identifying Matthew as an impostor.
It urged politicians and members of the public to avoid drawing conclusions while the matter remains before the court.
“The public should await the outcome of the ongoing trial instead of relying on claims made by a defendant currently facing criminal charges,” the statement said.
