Nigeria’s Fake Investment Agency Head Held After Months-Long Manhunt BODY: CITY, Nigeria — After weeks of evading authorities, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the self-styled director general of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has been captured in Nigeria.
The arrest of the man who had been operating under the guise of a government agency that never existed marks a significant development in the ongoing corruption investigation.
The PFIPC, which was allocated nearly $1 million in the 2026 national budget, was a creation of the Nigerian presidency, which later denied its existence. Despite this, Adeyemi had managed to secure office space, open a Central Bank of Nigeria account, and even host ambassadors in the name of the PFIPC.
The Nigerian police launched a manhunt for Adeyemi following allegations of forgery and impersonation. His arrest followed a warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which was sparked by Adeyemi’s failure to appear at a hearing.
The presidency has confirmed that the appointment letter from the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, was forged, leading to the investigation. Civil society groups, opposition politicians, and senior lawyers have called for an independent inquiry into the scandal. Adeyemi has maintained his innocence, claiming his life is in danger.
His lawyer cited safety concerns as the reason for his absence at the hearing.
However, Adeyemi’s lack of response to the court’s warrant led to his eventual capture.
The case has once again brought the issue of corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency to the forefront in Nigeria, a country that has faced several high — profile scandals involving government officials and agencies.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: BBC Africa
Source: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
