The Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied any involvement in an alleged fraudulent appointment and said he was the one who reported the matter to security agencies.
In a statement signed by Barrister Kola Kuforiji, Gbajabiamila’s office said the Chief of Staff is the complainant in the ongoing investigation of Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew, who allegedly presented himself as a presidential appointee.
According to the statement, Gbajabiamila wrote petitions to the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services on October 17, 2025, after his office received complaints of forgery. He said he attached the suspected forged appointment letter and other supporting documents.
The statement added that Gbajabiamila has repeatedly denied any relationship with Adeyemi in letters to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Gbajabiamila’s camp outlined five key defences. First, the Chief of Staff does not have powers to appoint directors-general of federal agencies. Such appointments, it said, are made by the President through the SGF.
Second, it described the “Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council” and the “Presidential Economic Advisory Council” cited by Adeyemi as non-existent under the law, making any appointment to them impossible.
Third, it said the police investigation and concerns raised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs support Gbajabiamila’s position.
Fourth, it said the police recovered forged documents, multiple bank accounts linked to fictitious entities, and evidence of a wider impersonation scheme.
Fifth, it said Adeyemi first implicated another person before later naming the Chief of Staff, which the statement described as damaging to his credibility.
The statement said letters dated October 17, October 27, and November 5, 2025, show Gbajabiamila raised objections before the matter became public.
Criminal charges have been filed, and the case is now before a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Until the court pronounces on the case, it is prudent and consistent with the rule of law to refrain from treating mere allegations as established facts,” the statement said.
