In Nigeria, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) operated as a government agency and was allocated 1.3 billion naira ($950,000) in the 2026 budget. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.
The council presented itself as a body to attract foreign investment, based in the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. Its director general, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, met with ministers, regulators, and foreign diplomats. However, last month the government said the council had no legal basis.
The presidency stated that PFIPC was never created by law or presidential order. Its legitimacy rested on a forged appointment letter bearing the signature of President Bola Tinubu's chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Matthew insists the council was lawfully established and denies wrongdoing. He is in hiding but promises to appear in court.
Investigators are examining how state machinery facilitated this. Former secretary to the government Babachir Lawal said official connivance was necessary. BudgIT co-founder Oluseun Onigbinde noted the council's budget line originated from the presidency.
The government first said Matthew opened a central bank account, but later stated no funds were released. President Tinubu ordered the anti-corruption commission to investigate within 30 days.