The Presidency on Wednesday dismissed allegations linking Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to an alleged appointment-for-cash scandal, describing his accuser as an impostor under investigation for forgery and impersonation.
The rebuttal followed claims by Adeniyi Matthew, who identified himself as Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and Presidential Economic Advisory Council, alleging that Gbajabiamila demanded ₦27.4 billion from a take-off grant and received ₦400 million through proxies to secure his appointment, with an alleged outstanding balance of ₦200 million.
Matthew also claimed tensions over the purported balance led to threats against his life and called for an independent investigative panel involving civil society and international organisations.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the allegations as “fabrications” by a “serial con artist,” insisting that security agencies had already been investigating Matthew since October 2025 over alleged forgery and impersonation.
According to the Presidency, the Office of the Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force after discovering alleged forged appointment letters and false claims of government affiliation.
The statement added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also raised concerns after Matthew allegedly convened a meeting with ambassadors in Abuja without authorisation.
Gbajabiamila reportedly denied any link to Matthew or recognition of the purported council, stating that the entity did not exist and that no such appointment was issued from his office.
He also directed security agencies to investigate what he described as a fraudulent network behind the forged documents.
The Presidency further stated that police investigations concluded the agency was fictitious and that Matthew allegedly forged appointment letters and other official documents while falsely presenting himself as a government official.
Authorities also reportedly recovered documents from his Abuja office and Suleja residence linking him to the alleged fraud.
Investigators were also said to have uncovered 34 bank accounts allegedly operated by Matthew, including several linked to fictitious agencies, as well as a Central Bank of Nigeria account allegedly opened through misrepresentation.
Police reports cited in the statement described the case as involving criminal forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence.
Matthew and two others were subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025 on an eight-count charge, with the matter adjourned to July 27 for hearing.
The Presidency added that Matthew’s latest allegations were made while on bail and contradicted earlier statements he allegedly gave to investigators, maintaining that the Chief of Staff had already issued a disclaimer on June 8 reaffirming that the claims were false.
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