The Presidency has firmly denied the existence of the so called Presidential Economic Advisory Council, distancing itself from an individual identified as Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, who has allegedly been presenting himself as the Director General of the council. According to the Presidency, the council is a fictitious body that has no legal backing or official recognition under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency dismissed claims linking the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the creation or operation of the council. It urged politicians and members of the public not to be misled by what it described as false narratives surrounding the matter.
The statement alleged that Adeyemi forged official appointment letters and other government documents to create the impression that he had been legitimately appointed to head the non existent agency. The Presidency disclosed that concerns first arose after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council complained that another body claiming to carry out similar responsibilities had been operating and engaging with individuals as though it were an official government institution...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
According to the Presidency, the Office of the Chief of Staff had, as far back as October 17, 2025, written to the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force, requesting a full investigation into the activities of those allegedly behind the forgery of appointment letters and the establishment of the fake agency. The petition reportedly highlighted that forged documents bearing falsified signatures, reference numbers and official seals were being used to confer legitimacy on the organisation.
The statement further alleged that the group established an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, organised meetings involving Nigerians and foreign nationals, and even sought diplomatic assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate visas for some of its members. The Presidency described these actions as serious criminal offences capable of damaging the integrity and credibility of government institutions.
It also revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier sought clarification from both the Office of the Chief of Staff and the Office of the National Security Adviser after representatives of the alleged council reportedly held meetings with ambassadors without official authorisation. The ministry noted that such engagements violated established diplomatic protocols and raised significant security concerns.
Reaffirming its position, the Presidency stressed that neither Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew nor the purported Presidential Economic Advisory Council has any connection with the Federal Government. It maintained that the agency does not exist in the structure of the current administration and warned the public, diplomatic missions, investors and development partners to disregard any claims or documents issued in its name while security agencies continue investigations into the alleged forgery and impersonation.
