The Nigerian Presidency has formally requested that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) identify the internal conspirators aiding Prince Matthew Adeniyi. Adeniyi is accused of running a fake government entity known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) to facilitate large-scale fraud.
Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, stated that internal collaborators helped Adeniyi carry out his scheme, which involved forging official presidential letters and managing 34 bank accounts linked to non-existent agencies. Ajayi labeled Adeniyi a serial con artist who is currently attempting to involve Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, in his criminal activities to divert attention from his own legal troubles.
Investigations are ongoing into how the suspect successfully opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account and deceived various officials. The Presidency maintains that the scheme was eventually exposed by the very system it sought to exploit, specifically through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previously, Femi Gbajabiamila issued a disclaimer regarding the fake council, and Bayo Onanuga confirmed that Adeniyi faces eight criminal charges at the Federal High Court.
Legal expert Femi Falana, SAN, has challenged the Presidency’s position, arguing that it lacks the authority to clear anyone involved. He has called for an independent probe by the ICPC to clarify how the agency was funded and how it gained access to government banking channels. Adeniyi is expected to appear in court on July 27, 2026, while authorities continue to search for two remaining suspects.
