The relentless campaign of malicious and tendentious allegations against the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, in connection with the so-called “fake agency” scandal must be confronted with facts, logic, and an unwavering commitment to due process.
At the centre of this controversy is one Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi (also known as Matthew Adeniyi Adeyemi), a man the Presidency has publicly described as an impostor and serial fraudster. He is currently facing criminal prosecution for alleged forgery, impersonation, operating a fictitious government agency—the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC)—and maintaining dozens of fraudulent bank accounts in the names of phantom entities. Police investigations, initiated following a formal petition submitted by Gbajabiamila in October 2025, reportedly established that the agency does not exist and that Adeyemi forged an appointment letter bearing the purported signature of the Chief of Staff.
Gbajabiamila was not a beneficiary of the alleged scam; he was the principal whistleblower. He alerted the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, actions that reportedly led directly to Adeyemi’s arrest and the exposure of the elaborate scheme. It is therefore astonishing that the same individual now facing serious criminal charges has turned around to level sensational allegations of bribery, corruption, abuse of office, and other misconduct against the very man who helped expose him.
These fresh allegations are not only unsubstantiated but are also riddled with glaring contradictions. Adeyemi previously claimed that Gbajabiamila issued or signed his appointment letter. He now admits he has never met the Chief of Staff in person. His claims that Gbajabiamila demanded a share of purported take-off funds or participated in concealing wrongdoing collapse under the weight of his own inconsistent narrative and the established assertion that the agency itself was fictitious.
The Presidency has already cleared the Chief of Staff, dismissing the accusations as fabrications by a discredited impostor. According to official statements, internal reviews and police investigations found no basis for the allegations against him. Nevertheless, some opposition figures and social media commentators continue to demand his suspension in the name of “optics” or to facilitate what they describe as a transparent investigation.
Such calls are not merely unfair—they are dangerous.
Suspending a senior public official solely on the allegations of an individual standing trial for forgery and impersonation would undermine the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence and establish a troubling precedent. It would effectively empower every disgruntled criminal suspect, political opponent, or mischief-maker to disrupt governance by making unverified allegations against public officials. Government cannot function effectively if the President is compelled to sideline his closest advisers each time a discredited individual stages a media campaign.
Gbajabiamila has responded through lawful means by issuing a pre-action notice and indicating his intention to seek ₦10 billion in damages for defamation unless the allegations are retracted. He is fully entitled to defend his reputation and the integrity of his office through the courts. If Adeyemi possesses credible evidence to support his claims, the appropriate forum for presenting such evidence is the courtroom—not the court of public opinion or political blackmail.
The ₦1.3 billion budget provision referenced in some reports has also been addressed by the Senate, which clarified that the National Assembly neither created nor inserted the budget line and bears no responsibility for verifying appointments into ministries, departments, or agencies. Any administrative lapses that may have enabled a fraudster to operate from government premises for a period are matters for the relevant authorities to investigate and address. They do not, without credible evidence, implicate the Chief of Staff, who reportedly acted swiftly to expose the alleged fraud once it came to his attention.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to express confidence in his Chief of Staff. According to official accounts, no internal review has established any wrongdoing on his part. Succumbing to orchestrated pressure by suspending a trusted and effective public servant based solely on the uncorroborated allegations of a man facing criminal prosecution would not demonstrate strength. Rather, it would suggest that falsehood, political vendetta, and media sensationalism can override facts, evidence, and due process.
Truth ultimately vindicates the just. Femi Gbajabiamila has maintained that he has nothing to hide and everything to gain from a thorough and lawful investigation. Those advancing these allegations should therefore be prepared to substantiate them before a competent court of law or withdraw them and offer the apology that justice and decency require.
Nigeria deserves governance that is focused, lawful, and free from distraction by unsubstantiated smear campaigns. The President is justified in allowing due process to run its course. The rest of us should remain committed to the rule of law.
By Justice A. M. Liman (Rtd.)
