Nigeria’s fight against corruption takes a startling turn.
+Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claimed to be the director‑general of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has been detained in Osun State after weeks of evading law enforcement. The PFIPC was conceived as a “pretend” agency, supposedly created by an alleged presidential instruction that was later exposed as a forged document signed by the government’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
+Federal High Court in Abuja issued a warrant on Tuesday after Adeyemi skipped his appearance to confront charges of forgery and impersonation. Police force intelligence and response units carried out the arrest, and he is expected to be transferred to the Abuja police headquarters for further questioning.
+The scandal erupted after President Bola Tinubu ordered an investigation into the fictitious council last week. The PFIPC was listed in the 2026 Appropriation Act with an allocation of 1.3bn naira (approximately $950,000), yet a review by the Accountant‑General’s Office confirmed that no bank accounts were opened and no public funds disbursed.
+The theft of public funds that could have subsidised climate‑adaptation programmes and green infrastructure has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and opposition politicians. They are demanding an independent inquiry before the government claims any “official” oversight of the alleged fraud.
+Adeyemi has maintained his innocence in local media, warning that “my life is in danger.” His lawyer, Genesis Francis, stated that the client was unable to attend the court hearing because of safety concerns and urged the court to consider his open letter to President Tinubu.
+The incident serves as a stark reminder that diverted government funds can undermine resilient climate programmes. Scrutiny over public spending, especially on allocations earmarked for foreign investment promotion, must prevent misuse that could derail ecological and socio‑economic goals.
+Read the original BBC story for more details.
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