The Nigerian Presidency has revealed that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew orchestrated a scheme to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account by utilizing counterfeit government paperwork. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated that police probes showed Adeyemi deceived the Accountant-General’s office to facilitate this opening, though no public funds were ever deposited into the account.
Investigations indicated that Adeyemi maintained 34 bank accounts, many of which were tied to phantom organizations like the FCT Investment Promotion Agency. He also forged his own appointment credentials and sought assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure U.S. visas for himself and his associates. The suspicious activities were first flagged by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, prompting Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to notify the Department of State Services and the police.
Authorities apprehended Adeyemi in Abuja on October 27, 2025, recovering numerous forged documents from his home and office. While the suspect attempted to implicate a deceased individual named Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola for providing the fake credentials, police confirmed the agency Adeyemi claimed to lead never existed. Facing charges of forgery and impersonation, Adeyemi and two others are currently awaiting a court hearing set for July 27. The Presidency has explicitly refuted his claims of having a legitimate appointment and has cautioned the public against spreading unverified allegations regarding the Chief of Staff.
