LAGOS, Nigeria — The embattled Director General of the defunct Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, defended the establishment of the disowned agency during a video call on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Okay News reports that Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew stated his actions were driven by a passion to attract foreign investors and promote the administration of the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, rather than for personal interest. Matthew made the remarks while speaking with social media critic Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
“I established that amount (rumoured N400 million) for the agency’s office out of passion for the country. I wanted to bring in foreign investors to Nigeria so that I can write my name in gold. I am just desperate to serve,” Matthew said. He claimed he was unaware of the budget insertion and defence for the agency in the national budget approved by the National Assembly.
The Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council appeared as a beneficiary in the 2026 Appropriation Act, prompting Bola Tinubu to direct the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate how the council obtained an allocation despite not being recognized by the federal government. Following the budget inclusion, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned security agencies over the alleged impersonation of the presidency, leading to the arrest and arraignment of Matthew by the Nigeria Police Force.
Matthew stated he possesses all documents backing the establishment of the agency and is prepared to turn himself in to the authorities for further clarification. He noted that his friend, Dolapo Tanimola, who allegedly paid the money for the establishment of the agency, died in a fire accident in a hotel in Utako, Abuja.
