Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who has been identified by authorities as the former Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has given his own explanation, slightly different from his earlier accounts, why the organization was created.
Speaking during a video conversation with social media personality Martins Otse, Matthew said the initiative was motivated by his desire to attract foreign investment into Nigeria and improve the country’s global image. He maintained that his actions were driven by what he described as a commitment to national development rather than personal financial gain.
Matthew also claimed he had no role in inserting or defending any budget allocation for the council. According to him, he had already been detained for 23 days during the period the 2026 budget was being considered by the National Assembly, making it impossible for him to participate in the budget.
Questioning the controversy surrounding the agency, he argued that he found it difficult to understand how an organization later declared nonexistent by the presidency appeared in the approved national budget. He insisted that he neither prepared nor presented any budget proposal on behalf of the council.
The embattled official further alleged that former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun questioned him about how he came into possession of his appointment documents. Matthew said he provided investigators with details of the individual he claimed facilitated the process before he was taken into custody.
Addressing questions about the petition reportedly submitted by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Matthew denied holding any meeting with him regarding the matter. He said, however, that they once spoke by telephone through a mutual acquaintance, whom he identified as the late Dolapo Tanimola.
Matthew also stated that he possesses documents that, according to him, support the establishment of the council. He said he intends to hand over those documents to the police and the Department of State Services as part of the ongoing investigation. He further claimed that the associate who allegedly financed the office arrangement for the agency later died in a hotel fire in Abuja.
The Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council became the subject of national debate after it appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite the presidency maintaining that no such agency exists under the federal government. Following the controversy, security agencies launched investigations, and Matthew was arrested and charged over allegations including forgery and impersonation.
Matthew has continued to deny the allegations, insisting that every document in his possession was legitimately obtained. The case remains before the court.
