Presidency clears Gbajabiamila of alleged forged appointment scandal

The Presidency has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of any involvement in allegations surrounding a purported forged appointment into a non-existent federal agency.

 

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency dismissed claims that Gbajabiamila appointed Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who is accused of presenting himself as the head of a fictitious presidential council.

 

The clarification followed public scrutiny over the activities of Adeyemi, who allegedly created and operated a fake organisation known as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council while claiming affiliation with other non-existent presidential bodies.

 

According to the Presidency, concerns arose after government agencies observed the group conducting official-looking activities, including meetings with foreign diplomats and attempts to obtain diplomatic documentation for visa facilitation.

 

The statement stressed that there was no record linking Gbajabiamila to the issuance of any appointment letter or approval for the purported agency.

 

It also noted that the Office of the Chief of Staff does not have the authority to issue appointments to federal agencies, explaining that such powers reside with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

 

The Presidency said the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force were directed to investigate the activities of those allegedly involved in forging official presidential documents.

 

Investigators reportedly recovered forged documents, official seals and correspondence allegedly used to give legitimacy to the fictitious council. The suspect was also accused of using the platform to engage unsuspecting individuals and institutions.

 

The statement added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised concerns after Adeyemi allegedly held meetings with ambassadors without authorisation or in line with established diplomatic procedures.

 

Police investigations further alleged that the suspect operated multiple bank accounts linked to fabricated entities and used forged documents to legitimise his activities.

 

According to the Presidency, Adeyemi was arrested in Abuja and charged alongside two other suspects after investigators concluded that the alleged council had no legal or institutional basis within the Federal Government.

 

The Presidency reiterated that Gbajabiamila had no connection with the alleged fraudulent scheme and described attempts to link him to the matter as misleading and unsupported by official records.

 

It added that the matter is already before the court and urged the public to refrain from speculation while judicial proceedings continue.