Pecohub A fresh controversy has emerged within Nigeria’s Presidency after Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew alleged that he paid ₦600 million to secure an appointment to head a federal agency and accused senior government officials of involvement in the process.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Adeyemi claimed he initially paid ₦400 million through proxies, with an outstanding balance of ₦200 million expected to complete the alleged arrangement.
He further alleged that the dispute escalated after he refused to surrender 48% of a ₦27.4 billion take-off grant earmarked for the agency he said he was appointed to head.
The allegations come after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, publicly distanced itself from the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), stating that neither the Chief of Staff nor the Presidency was associated with the agency.
Adeyemi, however, challenged that position during the briefing, insisting that the agency exists and operates within the Federal Government’s administrative framework.
According to him, the agency appears in the 2026 Appropriation Act, has approved personnel, office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat, and operational banking arrangements.
Questions raised
During the press conference, Adeyemi questioned how an agency described as non-existent could allegedly:
● Receive budgetary allocations in the 2026 Appropriation Act;
● Obtain approval for over 300 staff members;
● Secure office space within the Federal Secretariat;
● Operate accounts linked to government financial institutions; and
● Process official administrative documentation.
He argued that these issues require clarification and called for greater transparency from relevant government authorities.
The Office of the Chief of Staff has previously denied any connection with the agency in question, maintaining that it does not exist within the Presidency’s official structure.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response to the latest allegations regarding the alleged ₦600 million payment or the claimed demand for a share of the agency’s take-off grant.
