President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the establishment of a fictitious federal entity that was allocated 1.3 billion naira (£700,000) in Nigeria’s 2026 budget. The discovery of this fake agency has ignited a political firestorm in Africa's most populous nation, particularly as it occurs in the lead-up to a general election scheduled for January.

The audacious scheme came to light last October when Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff, alerted the police. He alleged that his signature, official seals, and reference numbers had been forged by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew. Matthew was reportedly claiming to have been appointed by the presidency to lead a body named the presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC).

The case is currently awaiting a court hearing in the capital, Abuja, on July 27. This follows the police's filing of an eight-count charge against Matthew and two others, encompassing criminal forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretenses. In a statement issued on July 1, the Nigerian presidency further revealed that Matthew had allegedly met with ambassadors without the foreign affairs ministry's knowledge and had misled the accountant-general’s office into establishing accounts for the PFIPC with the central bank and 33 commercial banks.

Adding to the controversy, the actual Nigerian investment promotion council had reportedly raised concerns about the PFIPC's similar name. The fictitious entity not only received budgetary allocation but was also granted office space within the federal secretariat in Abuja, a key government complex housing numerous ministries and agencies. This has fueled speculation about potential collusion with high-ranking officials.

In its defense of Gbajabiamila, the presidency stated that politicians and the public should be cautious about accepting Matthew's narrative without scrutiny. Local reports indicate that Matthew has asserted he received his appointment letter directly from Gbajabiamila, a claim the presidency has implicitly sought to distance itself from by ordering the investigation.

The incident has amplified existing concerns about corruption and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms within Nigeria's vast bureaucratic structure. The allocation of substantial public funds to a non-existent entity underscores the potential for sophisticated fraud within government systems.

Questions remain about the extent of the alleged conspiracy and whether other individuals within the civil service or political apparatus were involved in facilitating the PFIPC's illegitimate operations. The ongoing investigation is expected to shed light on these critical aspects.

As the court case and the presidential probe proceed, the Nigerian public will be closely watching for accountability and reforms aimed at preventing such breaches in the future, especially in the sensitive period leading up to national elections.