The Presidency has issued a detailed statement explaining how it says a man, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, allegedly created and operated a non-existent government agency while presenting himself as its director-general.
The statement, signed by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday, was released after Adeyemi reportedly renewed claims that he was appointed by Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to the President. The Presidency insists those claims are false and says the matter is already before the court.
However, rather than settling the controversy, the statement has generated fresh debate, with many Nigerians arguing that it leaves significant questions unanswered.
What is the controversy?
At the centre of the case is Adeyemi’s claim that he headed what he called the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. According to the Presidency, no such federal agency exists.
