The Presidency has officially exonerated Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, regarding claims that he facilitated a fraudulent appointment to a non-existent federal agency. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, released a statement clarifying that Gbajabiamila did not sign any appointment letter for Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew. Matthew has been accused of falsely claiming to lead the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, a group that does not officially exist.
Public scrutiny increased after the suspect attempted to interact with foreign diplomats and sought visa facilitation using these fabricated credentials. The State House emphasized that the Chief of Staff’s office lacks the authority to appoint individuals to federal agencies, as that responsibility rests with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. No official records support a connection between the Chief of Staff and the fake organization.
Security forces, specifically the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force, were tasked with probing the incident. Their findings uncovered forged stamps, documents, and bank accounts used by Matthew to grant his operation a facade of legitimacy. Following his arrest in Abuja, the suspect and two accomplices were brought to court. The Presidency reiterated that Gbajabiamila has no involvement in this scam, urging the public to refrain from speculation while the judicial process continues to verify the facts of the case.
