According to a report by The Nation News, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who is expected to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja, may fail to appear in court over concerns about his personal safety.
The planned arraignment follows criminal charges filed against him by the Nigeria Police after investigations into the activities of the PFIPC.
The charges reportedly include forgery, criminal conspiracy, impersonation and other related offences linked to the establishment and operation of the organisation.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television via Zoom on Monday night, Matthew claimed he was not evading the authorities but was staying away because he feared for his life.
He argued that instead of relying solely on the investigation ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), an independent panel with international participation should be established to investigate the matter.
Matthew alleged that several attempts had been made on his life since the controversy surrounding the PFIPC became public.
He appealed to President Tinubu to approve an independent inquiry into both the alleged financial misconduct and the threats to his life.
Investigators further alleged that the organisation unlawfully obtained office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and was inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budget allocation of N1.3 billion.
However, officials have maintained that no public funds were released before the alleged fraud was uncovered.
Despite these allegations, Matthew insisted that the circumstances surrounding his appointment and the creation of the agency deserved an independent investigation.
He alleged that a man identified as Dolapo Tanimola, who was reportedly believed to have died in a fire incident, acted as the intermediary between him and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Although Matthew admitted that he had never met Gbajabiamila personally, he claimed he paid N400 million through Tanimola for the appointment, while an additional N200 million remained unpaid.
According to him, the appointment letter was issued before the payment was completed.
He also acknowledged that he understood appointments into government agencies were normally handled through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) rather than the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Matthew explained that he initially questioned the authenticity of the appointment but later became convinced after receiving official correspondence allegedly sent from the SGF’s office.
He claimed Tanimola instructed him to write to the SGF, after which the office allegedly communicated with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding office accommodation for his agency and two others.
He further stated that government officials later took him to inspect office locations in Abuja before directing him to pay N300 million into a Central Bank of Nigeria recovery account to secure office space.
When he expressed concerns over the payment, he said Tanimola assured him that temporary accommodation would be provided until the agency’s take-off grant was released.
Matthew also disclosed that he borrowed the N400 million used for the appointment process.
According to him, those who lent him the money have already petitioned the EFCC in an effort to recover their funds.
He proposed that the panel should include representatives from international organisations, civil society groups, the United Nations and other independent bodies.
He said, “I want to reiterate that my life is in danger. Unknown gunmen came to my house three times within two days. They want to silence me by fire, by force……See More
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