The embattled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, has defended the establishment of the agency, insisting it was created out of a genuine desire to attract foreign investment to Nigeria and support the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during a video interview with social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, Matthew denied allegations that the agency was set up for personal enrichment, saying his motivation was to improve Nigeria’s image and position the country as a preferred destination for foreign investors.
According to him, he invested his personal resources in setting up the agency because of his passion to contribute to national development.
“I established the agency out of passion for the country. I wanted to attract foreign investors to Nigeria and leave a lasting legacy. It was never about personal interest. I simply wanted to play my part in serving the nation,” he said.
Matthew explained that the council was designed to collaborate with government ministries, departments and agencies, as well as anti-corruption bodies, to promote investment opportunities and improve Nigeria’s global reputation.
He also dismissed claims that he was involved in the inclusion of the agency in the 2026 national budget, insisting he had no knowledge of the budget process.
The embattled official claimed he was in police custody for 23 days while the budget was being prepared and defended before the National Assembly.
“I did not prepare or defend any budget. I was in detention when the budget was being processed. That is why I am surprised the Presidency later said the agency never existed despite its appearance in the national budget,” he said.
Matthew further alleged that he had earlier provided investigators with the identity and contact details of the individual who facilitated his appointment after he was invited for questioning by the then Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
He added that after his release from detention in November 2025, he discovered that the office allocated to the agency had been reassigned to another government official.
Responding to questions over the petition filed against him by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Matthew said he never met the presidential aide personally regarding the matter but acknowledged speaking with him on the telephone through a mutual acquaintance, the late Dolapo Tanimola.
He maintained that he possesses documents supporting the establishment of the council and pledged to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations.
“I am ready to submit every document in my possession to the police and the Department of State Services. I have nothing to hide and I am prepared to clear my name,” he stated.
The Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council became the subject of national controversy after it appeared as a beneficiary in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite the Presidency insisting that no such agency exists under the Federal Government.
Following the controversy, the Presidency distanced itself from the council, maintaining that President Tinubu neither approved its creation nor appointed anyone to head it.
The development prompted Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to petition security agencies over the alleged impersonation of the Presidency, leading to investigations by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
Matthew was subsequently arrested and arraigned on charges including forgery, impersonation and related offences. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, insisting that all documents in his possession were lawfully obtained.
President Tinubu has also directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate how the council was included in the 2026 budget and identify all those responsible for the controversial budget insertion for possible prosecution.