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| Acclaimed Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi. |
The embattled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, has raised concerns over his safety, claiming that his life is under threat amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged fake government agency.
Matthew made the claim during a video conversation with social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, where he appealed to security agencies and the public to take his concerns seriously.
He maintained that the council was established out of a genuine desire to attract foreign investment and improve Nigeria's global image, insisting that his actions were driven by patriotism rather than personal gain. According to him, the organisation was intended to make Nigeria a preferred destination for international investors and support the Federal Government's economic aspirations.
Matthew also denied having any involvement in the controversial budget allocation that brought the agency into the spotlight. He argued that he neither prepared nor defended any budget proposal for the council, noting that he was in police detention when the 2026 budget was being considered by the National Assembly.
He questioned how the council was included in the appropriation process despite his absence, saying the circumstances surrounding the allocation remained unclear to him.
The self-acclaimed agency head further stated that he had previously provided investigators with the identity and contact details of the individual he claimed facilitated his appointment. He added that after his release from detention, he discovered that the office space previously allocated to the council had been reassigned to another government official.
Responding to allegations made by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Matthew acknowledged that he never met him in person regarding the matter but said they had spoken by telephone through a mutual acquaintance who has since died.
He insisted that he possesses documents relating to the establishment of the council and pledged to submit all available records to the police and the Department of State Services to assist with ongoing investigations.
The controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council intensified after the body appeared among beneficiaries in the 2026 Appropriation Act, despite the Presidency insisting that no such agency exists under the Federal Government.
Following the development, the Presidency distanced itself from the council, stating that President Bola Tinubu neither approved its creation nor appointed anyone to head it. The matter prompted a petition by the Chief of Staff, leading to investigations by security agencies and the subsequent arrest and arraignment of Matthew on allegations including forgery and impersonation. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Amid the growing controversy, President Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate how the council was included in the 2026 budget despite not being recognised by the Federal Government. The President also ordered that anyone found responsible for the alleged budget insertion should be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
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