Presidency Denies Fake Appointment Linked to Gbajabiamila

(Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew. Photo by Nation News)

The Presidency yesterday denied claims that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appointed Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, describing the purported appointment as false.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the Office of the Chief of Staff had, in 2025, petitioned security agencies over the alleged use of fr@ud-ulent appointment letters purportedly issued from the office.

According to the statement, the Office of the Chief of Staff wrote to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police on October 17, 2025, requesting an investigation into persons allegedly issuing appointment letters bearing the Chief of Staff's name and signature.

The Presidency said the documents allegedly contained fake signatures, reference numbers and official seals, and were being used in connection with a body identified as the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

The statement further alleged that Matthew operated from an office in the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, where he held meetings with Nigerians and foreign nationals and sought a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visa-related purposes.

According to the Presidency, the petition submitted by the Chief of Staff included copies of the disputed appointment letter, correspondence relating to the request for a note verbale, and photographs of activities linked to the purported organisation.

The statement also said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sought clarification after a meeting involving ambassadors was reportedly held on October 10, 2025, under the auspices of the organisation without the ministry's involvement.

It said the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation subsequently sought clarification from the Office of the Chief of Staff regarding the organisation.

to the Presidency, Gbajabiamila responded that he did not issue any appointment letter to Matthew, stating that his office had no knowledge of the organisation.

The Presidency added that appointments into federal government agencies are processed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not the Office of the Chief of Staff.

Onanuga said the police later investigated the matter and filed criminal charges against Matthew and two other defendants before the Federal High Court in Abuja, noting that the charges arose from the police investigation and remain before the court.

The Presidency further stated that Matthew was on police bail when he recently renewed claims that he had been appointed by the Chief of Staff, prompting another public disclaimer from Gbajabiamila's office on June 8, 2026.

The statement also referred to previous public claims made by Matthew regarding international organisations, saying those claims had attracted official responses at the time.

The Presidency urged politicians and members of the public not to rely on the disputed claims while the criminal case is pending before the court, adding that the issues raised would ultimately be determined through the judicial process. It urged the public to refrain from comments that could prejudice the proceedings.