The Presidency has issued a detailed statement explaining how it says a man, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, allegedly created and operated a non-existent government agency while presenting himself as its director-general.

The statement, signed by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday, was released after Adeyemi reportedly renewed claims that he was appointed by Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to the President. The Presidency insists those claims are false and says the matter is already before the court.

However, rather than settling the controversy, the statement has generated fresh debate, with many Nigerians arguing that it leaves significant questions unanswered.

What is the controversy?

At the centre of the case is Adeyemi’s claim that he headed what he called the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. According to the Presidency, no such federal agency exists.

Officials say Adeyemi allegedly used forged documents to present himself as a presidential appointee, held meetings with diplomats and government officials, maintained an office at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and sought official recognition from ministries and agencies.

The Presidency describes the operation as an elaborate impersonation scheme designed to give legitimacy to a fictitious government institution.

How was the alleged scheme discovered?
According to the statement, concerns first emerged after officials of...

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