Fake Presidential Council Probe: Adeniyi’s Father Arrested, OAGF Denies PFIPC Received Funds

The police have arrested the father and a family friend of Adeyemi Adeniyi, the man at the centre of the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)/Presidential Economic Advisory Council, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The arrest occurred amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of forgery, impersonation and the creation of a government council that the Presidency has described as fictitious.

The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that the matter is being handled by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Force Headquarters, Abuja, because of its national significance.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, who disclosed the development, said police operatives visited the residence of Adeniyi’s parents in Ogbomoso and arrested his father alongside a family friend who was at the house at the time.

Falana questioned the legality of arresting relatives of a suspect, arguing that criminal responsibility cannot be transferred to family members.

He said Adeniyi had indicated his willingness to appear before the court and questioned why his father was arrested in connection with the case.

Residents of the area also confirmed the arrest, saying security operatives arrived at the residence in multiple vehicles before taking the two men away.

One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the police operation caused concern among neighbours, while another resident said Adeniyi’s mother was left distressed following the arrest.

However, the Oyo State Police Command said it could not provide further details because the investigation is being handled by federal authorities.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the case involving Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew was a matter of national interest and currently under investigation by the FCID, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He advised members of the public seeking updates on the matter to contact the Force Public Relations Officer or the FCID Liaison Public Relations Officer for official information.

OAGF Clarifies: PFIPC Never Had Operational CBN Account

Meanwhile, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has clarified that the disputed council never successfully opened an operational account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and did not receive any government funds.

The clarification followed claims surrounding the alleged establishment of a CBN account for the council after Adeniyi reportedly presented documents linked to the purported agency.

The Presidency had earlier alleged that Adeniyi used forged documents to mislead officials into initiating the account-opening process, while maintaining that no government funds were transferred.

However, the OAGF explained that the process was never completed because the required documentation, including details of authorised signatories, was not provided.

The Director of Public Relations at the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, said the account was never activated and therefore could not receive any government allocation.

He explained that the existence of a budgetary provision in the Appropriation Act does not automatically mean funds are released to an agency.

According to him, the Accountant-General’s Office could not disburse money to the council because there was no functional account through which payments could be made.

Mokwa also dismissed reports that salaries had been paid to workers of the council, explaining that federal agencies must obtain approvals from relevant institutions before recruiting staff and enrolling them on government payroll systems.

He said those requirements had not been met by PFIPC, adding that officers deployed from the Accountant-General’s Office to the council would now serve as prosecution witnesses.

How the PFIPC Controversy Started

The controversy surrounding PFIPC began after the purported council appeared in the 2026 Federal Government Appropriation Act with a total allocation of ₦1,302,978,784.

The budget provision included ₦802,978,783 for personnel costs, ₦200,000,001 for overhead expenses and ₦300,000,000 for capital projects.

The inclusion of the council in the budget triggered public debate after the Presidency stated that no such agency had been established by the Federal Government.

The Presidency later said Adeniyi, who presented himself as the Director-General of the council, was facing allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation and related offences.

According to government officials, concerns about the purported council emerged after the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) reportedly raised questions over activities allegedly similar to the commission’s mandate.

The Office of the Chief of Staff to the President subsequently petitioned security agencies over alleged forged appointment letters, official documents and other materials said to have been linked to the Presidency.

Investigators were reported to have recovered documents during searches connected to the case, while the government maintained that the council was never legally created.

The controversy has since expanded beyond the allegations against Adeniyi, with opposition figures and civil society organisations demanding explanations over how a body described by the Presidency as non-existent was included in the national budget.

The Federal Government has maintained that no public funds were released to the council, while investigations into the alleged creation of the body and related offences continue.