The Nigerian Presidency has officially refuted the existence of a Presidential Economic Advisory Council, specifically dismissing claims made by Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, who presented himself as the organization’s Director-General. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga issued a statement warning the public and politicians against endorsing Matthew’s fabrications, which were allegedly used to disparage the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Authorities revealed that Matthew forged official documentation from the Chief of Staff’s office to lend credibility to his fraudulent entity, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council. The Chief of Staff alerted security agencies on October 17, 2025, after the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council reported that the fake agency was conflicting with legitimate government operations. Investigations uncovered that the suspect attempted to solicit diplomatic favors, including visa assistance, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs using these fraudulent credentials.
Police apprehended Matthew in Abuja on October 27, 2025, following a thorough investigation into the forged documents and the suspicious activities conducted at his office in the Federal Secretariat. Evidence retrieved included records of 34 bank accounts and false claims involving the Central Bank of Nigeria. Matthew, who previously faced scrutiny for impersonating a United Nations official in 2016, is currently awaiting trial on an eight-count charge of forgery and impersonation. The Presidency has urged observers to avoid spreading unsubstantiated narratives until the legal proceedings conclude.
