The Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal in Nigeria has raised questions about the ease of creating the appearance of a real government institution in a country actively courting foreign investors. The council, which was set up to attract foreign investment, had a budget allocation of 1.3 billion naira (approximately $950,000) in the 2026 national budget. However, it was later revealed that the council had no legal basis for existing and its director general, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, was accused of forging an appointment letter. Adeyemi denies these allegations and claims he was properly appointed, but has gone into hiding due to fears for his life. The scandal has grown beyond the question of one forged letter, with investigators examining how far the machinery of the Nigerian state moved on Adeyemi's behalf and who inside it allowed that to happen. The council's creation and funding process raises concerns about the dysfunctional budgeting process and the rapid growth in the number of government bodies in Nigeria. The investigation has also led to the detention of Adeyemi's elderly father, Chief Adetunji Adeniyi, who was invited to assist with the inquiries. The case highlights the need for an independent judicial inquiry to identify the officials who allowed a phantom agency to acquire offices, staff, and public money.
