Nigeria probes fictitious 'presidential' agency earmarked for public funds
Nigeria's president has ordered an investigation into how a fictitious agency established offices in his backyard and was earmarked to receive nearly a million dollars.
Named the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, it was to receive about 1.3 billion naira ($944,300) in this year's budget, despite not being recognised under Nigerian law.
Its offices were reportedly based at the federal government secretariat in Abuja, where main government offices are located.
President Bola Tinubu's office said on Tuesday night that the country's anti-graft agency has been directed to launch an investigation and conclude its findings within 30 days.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will investigate among other things, alleged forged appointment letters, use of a false claim of presidential appointment to secure official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation.
Tinubu's spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claimed to be the agency's director was a "con artist" with a "history of fraudulent misrepresentation".
He insisted that no government funds had been released to the agency, as government critics questioned how the ghost agency was listed in the country's spending plans.
The scandal has piled pressure on Tinubu ahead of January's presidential election, thrusting endemic corruption in Africa's largest economy back into the spotlight.
According to local media, Adeyemi had claimed he was given an appointment letter by Tinubu's chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who denied knowing or ever meeting him.
Analysts said the government must uncover how the fictitious agency was listed in the country's spending plans.
Adeyemi is due in court on 27 July on charges forgery of official documents, seeking official recognition for fake government agency and opening multiple bank accounts for the agency.
