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By Lawrence Agbo
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed how a complaint from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President led to the exposure of an alleged criminal network accused of operating a fake federal commission and using forged presidential documents to deceive the public.
An interim investigation report by the police, titled “Police Interim Investigation Report: Activities of Fraudsters/Imposters Forging Official Appointment Letters Purportedly from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President,” said the probe began after the Presidency alerted the Inspector-General of Police to suspicious appointment letters purportedly issued from the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Investigators found that the documents allegedly contained forged signatures, official seals, reference numbers and the Nigerian Coat of Arms, creating the impression that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) was a legitimate government institution.
The report identified Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew as the principal suspect, alleging that he masqueraded as the Director-General of the non-existent commission while running its activities from an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja.
Police said the suspect allegedly conducted official meetings with local and foreign visitors and even approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek diplomatic support for visa applications on behalf of individuals presented as PFIPC employees.
Adeyemi was arrested on October 27, 2025, after detectives traced him to the Abuja office.
Subsequent searches at the office and his residence in Suleja, Niger State, reportedly uncovered forged appointment letters, fake government letterheads, official correspondence and other incriminating materials.
According to the report, the suspect claimed that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola helped him secure the appointment letter naming him Director-General of the PFIPC.
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However, investigators later established that Tanimola had died in a hotel fire in Abuja before the suspect’s arrest, with police verifying the death through family members, hospital records and church authorities.
As part of the investigation, the police sought clarification from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and questioned officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Three civil servants posted to the PFIPC office reportedly informed investigators that they were assigned there but never carried out any official responsibilities.
Financial analysis carried out with support from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit allegedly uncovered 34 bank accounts linked to the suspect.
Investigators said nine of the accounts were opened in the names of entities presented as government agencies, while another was allegedly created with the Central Bank of Nigeria in the name of the fictitious commission.
The police concluded that the PFIPC has no legal status or recognition within the Federal Government and alleged that the suspect used forged documents to impersonate a government official and transact with public institutions.
The report also named two additional suspects, identified only as Femi and Anu, who are currently being sought by investigators.
Police recommended freezing all bank accounts linked to the suspect, shutting down the PFIPC account allegedly opened with the Central Bank, and forwarding the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions after outstanding forensic examinations and investigative procedures are completed.
The investigation, according to the report, remains ongoing as detectives await further evidence, including specimen signatures from the Office of the Chief of Staff for forensic analysis.
