Category: PM News

The Presidency on Wednesday dismissed claims by one Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew that he was appointed to head a presidential agency, describing him as an impostor who allegedly forged official documents, impersonated government officials and operated a fictitious organisation to deceive public institutions, foreign diplomats and unsuspecting Nigerians.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said investigations by security agencies had exposed what it described as an elaborate scheme involving forged appointment letters, fake government agencies and multiple bank accounts allegedly used to lend credibility to the operation.

The statement was issued in response to renewed public interest surrounding Adeyemi, who has been presenting himself as the Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

According to Onanuga, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President first raised the alarm after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) complained that another entity claiming to be a federal agency was operating at cross-purposes with it.

He said the Chief of Staff, on October 17, 2025, petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, requesting an investigation into individuals allegedly forging appointment letters purportedly issued from his office.

‘The attention of this office has been drawn to the activities of certain individuals and groups engaged in the forgery of official appointment letters purportedly issued from my office,’ the Chief of Staff wrote in the petition.

According to the Presidency, the petition alleged that the fake documents, complete with forged signatures, official seals and reference numbers, were used to install Adeyemi as Director-General of a non-existent agency that operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.

Onanuga said the impostors also hosted meetings with foreign diplomats and Nigerian officials and even sought a diplomatic note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate United States visas for their purported staff.

He noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had independently questioned the legitimacy of the agency after Adeyemi convened a meeting with ambassadors in Abuja without the ministry’s knowledge or approval.

According to the statement, subsequent correspondence among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the Chief of Staff consistently established that no such agency existed and that Adeyemi had never received any presidential appointment.

‘The Chief of Staff could not have issued a letter of appointment to a non-existent agency. Moreover, the Chief of Staff does not make appointments or write letters, as these are the exclusive preserve of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,’ Onanuga stated.

The Presidency disclosed that police investigators arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at the Abuja office from where he allegedly operated the fraudulent organisation.

Searches conducted at his office and residence in Suleja reportedly yielded forged appointment letters and other incriminating documents.

According to Onanuga, police investigations established that Adeyemi forged official documents, falsely presented himself as a presidential appointee and fraudulently requested diplomatic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement further alleged that investigators uncovered 34 bank accounts, including nine opened in the names of fictitious government agencies, and discovered that Adeyemi had also opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account by allegedly misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

The Presidency, however, noted that investigators confirmed no government funds were paid into the account.

Quoting the police investigation report, Onanuga said: ‘The act of the suspect constitutes criminal forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence, thereby bringing the office of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Presidency to disrepute before the public and international community.’

He disclosed that the police subsequently filed an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against Adeyemi and two alleged accomplices on November 27, 2025, with the matter scheduled for hearing on July 27.

The Presidency also alleged that Adeyemi had a history of falsely claiming public positions, recalling that in 2016 he presented himself as President-General of the World Youth Organisation, which he claimed was affiliated with the United Nations, before the UN denied the existence of such an organisation.

Onanuga urged politicians and members of the public not to rely on Adeyemi’s claims or use them to attack the Office of the Chief of Staff, stressing that the matter is already before the court.

He advised interested parties to allow the judicial process to run its course rather than speculate on issues that are now sub judice.

But in a recent press statement, Prince Adeyemi had rejected an earlier disclaimer from the Chief of Staff as he demanded transparency. ‘The issue is no longer about personalities. It is about contradictions that demand answers,’ he stated.

He questioned how the council could appear in the national budget if it did not exist. ‘Let’s assume for one second that all what the chief of staff published were right, that the agency does not exist. Then how did the agency’s name get into the 2026 appropriation budget pages 50 and 51? If the agency does not exist, yet found its way into the Nigerian national budget, what that means is that the entire 2026 appropriation budget is a fraud and should be discarded.’

Adeyemi further alleged that the disagreement stemmed from financial demands. ‘The major rationale behind the disagreement between myself and the Chief of Staff is because he allegedly requested 48% of the take-off grant (27,395,510,136 naira) from the same agency which he denies it exists to which I rejected. After he collected a total sum of 400 Million by proxy with remaining balance of 200 Million to secure the said appointment.’

He also raised concerns about governance processes, including the approval of over 300 staff, office accommodation in the Federal Secretariat, and bank accounts at the Central Bank of Nigeria.’

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has assured its candidates for the National Assembly, governorship and state Houses of Assembly that their names would be uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal before the respective deadlines.

The National Leader of the (NDC), Sen. Seriake Dickson, made this known on his ‘X’ handle.

He, however, said the particulars of its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi has been uploaded to the INEC portal.

In the post, Dickson said: ‘the name of the vice-presidential candidate would be uploaded after the completion of the required documentation, while the submission of candidates for other elective positions was also ongoing’.

He said the party had complied with the INEC timetable and noted that there was sufficient time to upload the names of candidates for the National Assembly, governorship and state Houses of Assembly before the respective deadlines.

‘There is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC and there is no reason for anyone to panic,’ he said.

Dickson also disclosed that the NDC had filed an appeal against a court ruling affecting the party, alongside an application for a stay of execution, adding that both had been served on the INEC Chairman with a request for the commission to act in accordance with the law.

He maintained that the NDC remained a duly registered political party, stressing that it had already concluded its nomination processes nationwide through primaries monitored by INEC.

According to him, what remains is the administrative process of submitting the names of qualified candidates through the commission’s portal, to which the party has already been granted access.

The former Bayelsa governor thanked party aspirants for their participation in the primaries, acknowledging that although the process was not without challenges, efforts were ongoing to reconcile aggrieved members.

He assured unsuccessful aspirants that they would be accommodated in the party’s campaign structures and committees, describing them as the backbone of the NDC.

Dickson also commended INEC, led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, for what he described as its professionalism, particularly in registering the NDC and two other political parties in compliance with a court order.

He urged the electoral commission, the judiciary and security agencies to remain neutral in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, expressing confidence that the courts would determine the pending appeal in accordance with the law.

The NDC leader reaffirmed that the party ‘has come to stay’ and called on Nigerians to continue supporting democratic institutions and the country’s multi-party system.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, on Tuesday declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have not shown the political capacity or organisation required to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Gagdi said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) remains far ahead of the opposition in political mobilisation, insisting that he had seen nothing to suggest that either Atiku or Obi was preparing effectively to unseat the President.

‘I have never, in my political imagination, thought that my party APC will lose election,’ he said.

According to him, ‘What are the opposition doing? What are the opposition planning or doing? I have not seen, with the activities of opposition, those you mentioned, Peter Obi or Atiku, I have not seen any effort being put in place by them to unseat or defeat the President come 2027. I would say this any day, anytime.’

Gagdi argued that the APC had maintained sustained political activities across the country, unlike opposition parties.

‘You have seen APC’s activities in the last one year across Nigeria, in the four angles of Nigeria where our political activities is ten times the political activities of any opposition political party in Nigeria,’ he said.

‘So who is supposed to talk to another person about planning to win election?’

The Plateau lawmaker dismissed suggestions that only opposition politicians were strategising ahead of the next general election.

‘You think Bola Tinubu and the APC are not trying to win elections in 2027? Atiku and Obi have always been defeated,’ he stated.

Recalling his electoral experience, Gagdi said Obi failed to make significant electoral inroads in his constituency during previous elections.

‘Peter Obi, I was in the state assembly in 2015, I was in the National Assembly from 2019 to 2023. I will talk about what I know. He did not win election in Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam.’

He added, ‘I won election in 2023 under APC with a margin of 31,000 votes. I am not bragging, I am talking to you about facts.’

Gagdi maintained that political parties naturally prepare for elections, saying it would be wrong to suggest that only opposition politicians were planning for 2027.

‘If you think they are planning, what makes you think that the APC is not planning to win elections? Are we sleeping? What planning are they doing?’ he asked.

The lawmaker also accused some opposition figures of exploiting the country’s security challenges for political advantage instead of offering practical solutions.

‘From the tune of some people that are supposed to be leaders of this country when they are talking about what Nigerians are passing through, you will see it from them that they seem to appreciate the situation Nigeria is going through.’

‘Instead of lamenting and proffering solutions, you lament and tie it to the fact that government is defective in solving that problem just to achieve some political gain.’

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau has appointed a new Special Adviser on Security and Coordinator of Operation Rainbow, a state-owned security outfit.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Samuel Jatau, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) on Tuesday in Jos.

According to the statement, Mutfwang appointed retired Maj.-Gen. Bala Isandu as his new Special Adviser on Security.

Isandu replaced retired Brig.-Gen. Gakji Shipi, who has been redeployed as the Coordinator, Safe School Initiative in the state.

Jatau also said that the governor approved the appointment of Brig.-Gen. Nash Yakubu as the Coordinator of Operation Rainbow.

The governor congratulated the new appointees and urged them to live above board.

Mutfwang further urged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear towards tackling the security challenges confronting the state.

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has said he will abolish the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) if he becomes Nigeria’s president.

Sowore believes universities and other higher institutions should handle their own admissions through a transparent and merit-based process instead of relying on JAMB.

He also said he would scrap the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in its current form. According to him, it would be replaced with a voluntary two-year National Job Corps.

The proposed programme would focus on providing participants with employment opportunities, practical skills, entrepreneurship support, and pathways to permanent careers.

In a post on social media, Sowore said young Nigerians need jobs, skills, opportunities, and the freedom to choose their future rather than compulsory schemes.

He argued that tertiary institutions should be responsible for admitting students directly and that reducing bureaucracy would improve the admission process.

Sowore’s comments are part of his plans for education and youth development if elected president of Nigeria.

Tension boiled over in Lassa community, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, on Tuesday, as parents compiled the names of children still missing after a deadly attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa.

The students were abducted on Monday when suspected ISWAP terrorists stormed the school while candidates were sitting for the National Examinations Council examination.

At least two teachers were reportedly killed during the attack, while several students were taken away by the assailants.

Anger deepened in the community on Tuesday after a Borno State Government delegation, led by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abba Wakilbe, arrived in Lassa to commiserate with affected families and assess the situation.

The visit, however, turned chaotic as angry youths and relatives of the abducted students rejected the delegation’s address.

Chanting ‘we don’t want,’ the protesters insisted that the government should focus on rescuing the abducted children rather than giving speeches.

‘We don’t want any talk, just go and bring back our children,’ the crowd shouted as tension escalated.

The commissioner and members of his team were unable to deliver their formal address as the youths continued to protest. The delegation was later escorted out of the community by aggrieved residents carrying placards.

Some of the protesters also chanted, ‘Don’t play politics with our children,’ as anger spread across the town.

Meanwhile, parents have begun submitting the names of missing students to authorities.

Several families said at least 36 children had so far been listed as unaccounted for.

A parent, Mbula Bura, said his 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula, was still missing after the attack.

‘Parents who could not find their children were invited to come and register. I discovered that 37 names have been registered so far,’ he said.

Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, said his 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, an SSS2 student, was in class when the terrorists attacked.

‘My daughter was in class when the terrorists came. Since yesterday, we cannot sleep,’ he said.

He added that families initially received conflicting information about possible rescues before later being told that many children were still missing.

A resident, Bitrus Milnda, also said two of his relatives, Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both SSS1 students, were among those abducted.

The Nigerian Army had earlier said troops under Operation Hadin Kai rescued 10 victims, including students and teachers, during a search-and-rescue operation backed by air surveillance.

Two security personnel were also reportedly killed during the operation.

Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining abductees, adding that the exact number of those still missing was still being verified.

The incident has heightened fear in Lassa and neighbouring communities as families continue to wait for news on the fate of their children.

Following the attack, the Borno State Government ordered the closure of schools in Dille, Lassa and Chul communities.

The governor’s spokesman, Dauda Iliya, said the decision followed a stakeholders’ meeting held during the government delegation’s visit to Lassa on Tuesday.

According to him, reports from the meeting showed that 36 students were still missing.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum had dispatched the delegation to the community after the attack, assuring residents that the government was working with security agencies and community leaders to secure the safe return of the abducted students.

The Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council has cautioned Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, against what he described as attempt to use his revered name, integrity and professional reputation to lend credibility to poorly executed flyover projects by the state government.

The APC Campaign Council said this while welcoming Oba Ladoja to Osogbo for the commissioning of the LAMECO and Okefia flyovers scheduled for commissioning today in Osogbo, Osun State today, Wednesday, July 1.

But the APC Campaign Council, in a statement signed by its Head of the Media and Publicity Committee, Oluremi Omowaiye, said the two flyovers to be commissioned by Olubadan were constructed by Kimzee Global Investment and A’scorj Nigeria Limited respectively, two companies, which, according to it, has no known history or expertise in road and bridge construction.

The APC Campaign Council described the two projects as ‘S’agbe L’oju Yoyo Flyovers,’ (substandard) as the two companies, – Kimzee Global Investment and A’scorj Limited, according to it, are known primarily for providing skills acquisition, arts and craft training to youths as well as estate agency respectively.

The APC Campaign Council claimed several professional engineers raised serious complaints over what they described as obvious technical and structural deficiencies during the construction of the LAMECO and Okefia flyovers

It however said the concerns were allegedly ignored by the contractors and the supervising authorities even after visual monitoring and non-destructive testing (NDT) was carried out to assess some structural defects

The APC Campaign Council further alleged that the Okefia flyover exhibited signs of caving in during construction before the affected portions were plastered with cement, a development which, according to it, heightened public concerns about the structural integrity of the project.

The Council stated that its decision to alert the Olubadan was informed solely by the immense respect the Osun APC has for the highly revered traditional ruler and his distinguished professional career.

It said it would be unfortunate if the outgoing administration in Osun State were to exploit the monarch’s presence to give legitimacy to projects that continue to attract technical concerns and public scrutiny.

‘The Olubadan is a highly respected monarch and an accomplished professional whose reputation has been built over decades. We consider it necessary to place these concerns before Kabiyesi so that his good name will not be used to validate projects that many professionals believe fall short of acceptable global engineering standards,’ the statement said.

The Council also noted that, ‘The two projects were self-serving: they came about because some people wanted to line their pockets with people’s money. The flyovers were needless considering the light volume of traffic on the two roads. The government did not conduct traffic counts before embarking on such white elephant projects that came at a highly inflated cost to government. Also, we have it on good authority that some required structural and materials tests for the project were not even conducted, as it is the standard.’

The APC Council ALSO accused the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of establishing what it described as a disturbing pattern of awarding multi-billion-naira public infrastructure contracts to companies whose core businesses have no relationship with the projects assigned to them.

It pointed out that the administration awarded the ?100 billion Ede Airport project to an interior decoration company SHOWIE-TEE GLOBAL SERVICES LTD.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commiserated with member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Cardinal James Odumbaku, on the death of his beloved wife, Mother Celestial Olasinmi Akindele Odunmbaku.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, extended his heartfelt sympathy to Cardinal James Odunmbaku, popularly known as ‘Baba Eto.’

He also commiserated with the entire members of the deceased family, leaders and members of the Celestial Church of Christ, particularly the parish where Mother Celestial Olasinmi Akindele Odunmbaku worshipped during her lifetime.

Governor Sanwo-Olu implored family, friends, and associates of the late Odunmbaku to immortalise the good name of the deceased and sustain her legacy.

The Governor said the late Mother Celestial Olasinmi Akindele Odunmbaku lived a fulfilled life and served in God’s vineyard, adding that she was a good partner to the renowned cleric and politician, Cardinal James Odunmbaku.

He said: ‘On behalf of my beloved family; the State Government and Lagos residents, as well as APC leaders and members in Lagos State, I sympathise with a revered member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Cardinal James Odumbaku on the death of his beloved wife, Mother Celestial Olasinmi Akindele Odunmbaku.

‘The passing of Mother Celestial Olasinmi Akindele Odunmbaku is a great loss not to the family alone but to the entire body of Christ and the entire people of her community, friends, associates, and disciples.

‘She was a devoted and committed public officer who served the people passionately during her tenure as the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Ondo State. She championed numerous initiatives for women’s and youth empowerment in the State.

‘I pray that God will grant the late Mother Celestial Olasinmi Akindele Odunmbaku eternal rest and grant Cardinal James Odunmbaku, the entire family, and the congregation the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.’

The Federal Government has said it is working to strengthen security in the Niger Delta as part of efforts to raise Nigeria’s crude oil production.

Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, said this after a closed-door meeting with key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector at the 6 Division Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt Barracks, Rivers State.

Musa said the meeting was held at the directive of President Bola Tinubu to review the security situation in the Niger Delta and identify ways to boost oil production.

According to him, piracy, armed robbery and other security threats in the region have reduced significantly.

‘It’s been good. It could be better, but the members of the Armed Forces are working tirelessly to ensure that the area is secured,’ he said.

‘Issues of piracy, armed robbery and all these have really gone down.

‘Production has improved. We are far above our oil contract production, and we are aiming very, very high,’ the minister added.

Musa said oil host communities were invited to the meeting so that the government could hear directly from them and understand the challenges affecting their areas.

He said Tinubu was determined to ensure that oil-producing communities are secured, happy and properly carried along in the government’s plans.

‘We even invited the communities so that we can hear from their own aspect what the challenges are.

‘The President is really determined to ensure that the oil-producing areas are well secured and the oil communities are happy and well taken care of, so that we can have more production,’ Musa said.

The minister said one of the key issues discussed at the meeting was the need to rebuild trust between host communities and oil operators.

He said the Armed Forces would continue to improve civil-military relations and deepen engagement with stakeholders in the region.

Musa also urged Nigerians to support security agencies with credible information in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other crimes.

‘This is a Nigerian challenge. Terrorism is now a worldwide affair and we need everybody to be on board.

‘The terrorists and bandits live within the communities. If the people don’t provide information and continue to support them with logistics, it creates this atmosphere of insecurity,’ he said.

The minister expressed confidence that improved cooperation between citizens and security agencies would help address insecurity across the country.

‘Working together with the security forces, we’ll achieve – and we’re already achieving – so much,’ he added.

The meeting was attended by senior security officers, regulators, international oil companies, indigenous oil firms, representatives of oil host communities and other stakeholders.

Also present was Asari Dokubo, the Paramount Ruler of Elem Kalabari, who described the meeting as a positive step towards improving security and oil production in the Niger Delta.

‘Our meeting with the Minister of Defence on oil and gas-related matters was very encouraging, and it was a step in the right direction,’ Dokubo said.

He said the Federal Government’s new approach would produce results if sustained.

‘If they keep following this new direction, a lot is going to happen. It’s not rocket science. It’s something that has to do with commitment,’ he said.

Dokubo also urged oil operators to adopt best practices, warning that disruptions in oil production affect government revenue and national development.

‘We’re losing a lot of resources, and it affects all Nigerians. When there is one infraction, it has a trigger effect. There will not be enough money to carry out the projects of whichever government is involved.

‘This is the best that I have seen so far, and I thank God the Minister is driving this process,’ he said.

Nigeria currently produces about 1.5 million barrels of crude oil per day.

The Federal Government is targeting 2.5 million barrels per day through improved security and stronger collaboration among security agencies, oil companies, regulators and host communities.

The Nigerian Navy has disrupted an extortion network that subjected fishermen and other waterway users to persistent intimidation and illegal levies within the Bonny Creek axis of Rivers.

The Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho disclosed this in an operational report on Tuesday in Abuja

According to Folorunsho, following credible intelligence, personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY in conjunction with troops of the Nigerian Army dealt a significant blow to criminal elements operating from a hideout in Asaramatoru community.

He said the operation forced the suspected criminals to abandon their hideout, while a search of the area led to the recovery of operational items.

‘Items recovered include a 7.62mm empty magazine, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) butt, several ATM cards and other items of intelligence value,’ he said.

He added that engagement with members of the community revealed that the criminal group had turned the area into a sanctuary from which it launched attacks on fishermen and commuters.

‘The members of the community said the group extorts residents and demand proceeds from market sales.

‘The operation has therefore restored confidence among the affected community and disrupted the activities of the criminal syndicate within the Bonny Creek corridor,’ he said.

The director of naval information further said that the operation also yielded valuable intelligence that would support follow-on actions aimed at identifying, tracking, and dismantling the wider criminal network operating within the area.

He reaffirmed the navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations and protecting coastal communities.

He assured Nigerians that the navy would continue to deny criminal elements the freedom to exploit Nigeria’s waterways for kidnapping, sea robbery, extortion, and other criminal activities.