Tinubu under pressure as fake Nigerian government agency sparks political storm

President ordered investigation after fictitious federal body allocated funding and office space, triggering renewed scrutiny of corruption

A fictitious federal entity that was allocated 1.3 billion naira (705,248) in Nigeria's 2026 budget has precipitated a political storm in Africa's largest democracy in the run-up to January's general election.

The fake agency came to light last October when Femi Gbajabiamila, the president's chief of staff, wrote to the police alleging that his signature, along with official seals and reference numbers, had been forged by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who was claiming to have been appointed by the presidency to head the presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC).