Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni has faulted the Presidency’s response to the controversy surrounding Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, arguing that it failed to explain how a budget allegedly linked to a fictitious government agency found its way into Nigeria’s national budget.
Oseni made the remarks in a post on X on Thursday while reacting to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the broadcaster, the Presidency’s explanation left a critical question unanswered despite its detailed account of the ongoing criminal case against Adeyemi.
“The explanation of Mr Onanuga draws more questions. He didn’t answer the question on how did the parastatal budget get into the national budget,” Oseni wrote.
His comments came after the Presidency rejected Adeyemi’s claim that he had been appointed Director-General of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
In its statement, the Presidency maintained that the purported council does not exist, describing Adeyemi as an impostor currently facing criminal prosecution over allegations of forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Onanuga disclosed that security agencies launched an investigation into the matter in October 2025 after the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President reported that some individuals were allegedly forging official appointment letters and operating under the name of a non-existent government agency.
The Presidency further stated that police investigations found that Adeyemi allegedly forged appointment documents, falsely presented himself as a government appointee, operated multiple bank accounts associated with fictitious agencies and fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account, although no government funds were paid into it.
It added that Adeyemi and two other suspects are currently facing an eight-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the case scheduled to resume later this month.
The Presidency also urged politicians and members of the public to avoid amplifying Adeyemi’s claims and allow the court to determine the case.
