How two fake government agencies went under the radar in Nigeria
Two fake government agencies in Nigeria managed to operate for years by forging documents and infiltrating official government offices. The scheme was uncovered after legitimate agencies complained about the imposters' activities.
Why it matters
This case exposes significant vulnerabilities in government administrative security and the potential for large-scale fraud within public institutions.
Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew has been charged with impersonation and forgery. ( Instagram: princeadeyemi_adeniyi )
Link copied Share Share article On paper, the Nigerian Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) looked every bit like an official government agency.
It had funding, an office inside the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, which houses many government ministries, and a website bearing the government's stamp of authenticity. Few reasons existed to question its legitimacy.
Until it emerged that the agency did not officially exist.
The revelation has triggered wider scrutiny of government institutions, with a second organisation, the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office (NBDMNSPO), now also under investigation.
Here is how both agencies managed to operate under the radar.
For years, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew walked Nigeria's government halls as the "Director-General" of the PFIPC.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in