FRESH documents have emerged showing that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) approved the disowned Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi, to attend the Canada-Africa Fintech Summit (CAFS) in August 2025.
News Point Nigeria reports that the development comes amid growing political and institutional reactions, including a strong condemnation from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a demand for accountability by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over the controversial N1.3 billion allocation to the same fictitious agency in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
SERAP had urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to release certified documents relating to the approval of over N1.3 billion (N1,302,978,784) to the PFIPC, as the controversy continues to escalate.
The Presidency had earlier alleged that Adeyemi fabricated documents and claims, insisting that the council never existed. It also called on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to identify and prosecute those allegedly aiding the scheme within government institutions.
However, the controversy intensified following a document obtained by News Point Nigeria, showing that the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office at the OSGF, Engr. Nadungu Gagare, approved Adeyemi’s participation in the Canada Fintech summit scheduled for August 3–8, 2025.
The latest revelation has further deepened the dispute involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Adeyemi, as questions mount over how the alleged fake agency operated within official channels.
The document indicated that Adeyemi was directed by the OSGF to register and engage stakeholders for the programme.
Signed by Engr. Gagare on behalf of the SGF’s office, it stated that the invitation was in line with the President’s economic strategy, adding that Nigeria’s participation would advance digital finance, strengthen economic ties, and attract foreign direct investment (FDI).
The letter read in part: “In accordance with Mr President’s Economic Strategies on the Agenda, I invite you to participate in and join the Nigerian delegation to Canada from August 3rd to 8th, 2025.
“The CAFS Summit highlights strategic roles in Digital Finance and Technology among stakeholders worldwide.
“This initiative will significantly contribute to shaping our economic vision, advancing development priorities, strengthening economic ties, fostering bilateral trade relations, and attracting foreign direct investment, FDI, to benefit the Nigerian economy.
“Given the above, you are urgently requested to register and involve other stakeholders in the programme. Your experience, technical support, and presence will strengthen this delegation.
“For more information, kindly contact the Permanent Secretary of the Political and Economic Affairs Office at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), and the CAFS Organising Group.”
Reacting to the unfolding controversy, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of normalising governance scandals.
Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said Nigeria had reached a point where scandals were no longer isolated incidents but recurring features of governance.
He challenged the President to fully disclose his age, educational background, and family history, describing them as issues that have been subject to prolonged public debate and litigation.
He said: “Nigeria has sadly arrived at that point. The issue is no longer one scandal or another. The issue is the pattern. And when scandals become a pattern of governance, the inevitable conclusion is this: you are no longer managing scandals; you have become the scandal itself.
“Investigations were announced, recoveries publicised, and assurances given, yet Nigerians are still waiting for a comprehensive public account of what transpired, who was held responsible, and what institutional safeguards were erected to prevent a recurrence.
“From unresolved questions surrounding the Humanitarian Affairs scandal to allegations of crude oil theft and illegal tanker releases that faded without publicly released investigative reports, to concerns raised over alleged discrepancies in the 2024 budget.
“From the absence of a comprehensive forensic explanation to billions reportedly expended on refinery rehabilitation while public refineries remain largely dysfunctional, to procurement controversies involving major infrastructure projects.”
Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to address the controversy surrounding the N1.3 billion allocation to the PFIPC when plenary resumes on Tuesday.
This follows revelations that a forged appointment letter bearing the alleged signature of Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila was used to secure office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, giving the non-existent agency an appearance of legitimacy for over a year.
Multiple Presidency and civil service sources said the scandal passed through several bureaucratic layers, including the Budget Office, House of Representatives, and Civil Service Headquarters, without proper verification.
They added that the failure to scrutinise the appointment letter allowed the alleged scheme to spread across ministries, diplomatic missions, and government agencies.
According to one source, the N1.3bn allocation was inserted into the 2026 budget without Adeyemi or any representative of the PFIPC appearing before the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service.
A National Assembly source said: “It was not brought in as a stand-alone item. It was done collectively with others that came directly from the Presidency. So there was no defence or oversight.
“But I understand the Senate leadership will address the controversy on Tuesday to douse the growing tension and alleged complicity by any of its presiding officers.”
Presidency sources explained that the appointment process for such positions normally begins with a presidential approval transmitted through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who then issues formal letters.
They said the Chief of Staff does not have authority to appoint Directors-General or Permanent Secretaries.
One source stated: “Everyone who has ever been appointed by this President passed through a specific process. The SGF writes to the President, and once approved, the SGF issues the appointment letter.
“The Chief of Staff has never appointed anyone at that level.”
Another civil servant explained that Adeyemi allegedly exploited a procedural gap by submitting a forged letter and attaching it to requests for office allocation.
“He forged a letter with a falsified signature of the Chief of Staff. That was the loophole. Once the office was allocated, everything else followed.”
Sources added that once Adeyemi secured office space at the Federal Secretariat, the operation gained legitimacy, complete with letterheads and online presence.
According to Presidency insiders, the fraud was first detected by officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), who noticed encroachment on their mandate.
What initially appeared to be inter-agency rivalry later escalated into a formal security investigation involving the DSS.
A source said the Chief of Staff denied knowledge of Adeyemi and insisted on a full investigation, which eventually led to his arrest and arraignment.
However, officials noted that prosecution momentum weakened after the initial arrest.
SERAP has since demanded transparency over the N1.3bn allocation, while civil society organisations and opposition parties have intensified calls for accountability.
Some groups have even demanded the resignation of top officials linked to the controversy, as pressure continues to mount on the National Assembly and the Presidency.