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Man Allegedly Created Fake FG Agency, Presidency Says

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Presidency on Wednesday gave a detailed account of how it alleged that Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew created and operated a fictitious federal government agency, occupied office space at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, convened meetings with foreign ambassadors and allegedly forged presidential appointment documents to sustain what it described as an elaborate scam.

The account was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in response to renewed public interest surrounding Adeyemi’s claim that he was appointed Director-General of a so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, also referred to as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

According to the Presidency, “no such agency exists within the Federal Government, while the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President never issued any appointment letter to Adeyemi.”

The statement said the alleged fraud first came to light after officials of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, NIPC, alerted the Presidency that another organisation was operating as though it were a federal agency with overlapping responsibilities. Investigations, according to the statement, revealed that Adeyemi had allegedly established an office on the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex Phase III in Abuja, from where he presented himself as Director-General of the fictitious council.

The Presidency alleged that he and his associates held meetings with foreign diplomats and Nigerian stakeholders while claiming to represent the Federal Government. One of such meetings, it said, was held on October 10, 2025, at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja, where Adeyemi reportedly “summoned ambassadors without the knowledge or approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

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The ministry was said to have raised the alarm in a letter dated October 15, 2025, describing the meeting as “a violation of established diplomatic procedures” and requesting clarification from both the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Chief of Staff.

The Presidency said the Chief of Staff had already petitioned the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigeria Police Force on October 17, 2025, after discovering that “forged appointment letters bearing fake signatures, official seals and reference numbers were being used to legitimise the fake agency.”

According to the statement, the petition also informed security agencies that Adeyemi had requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a diplomatic note verbale to facilitate United States visas for himself and members of his purported staff. The Presidency said copies of the forged appointment letter, the visa request documents and photographs obtained from the fake agency’s website were attached to the petition submitted to security agencies.

It further disclosed that after receiving enquiries from various government institutions regarding Adeyemi’s status, the Chief of Staff repeatedly informed both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that “neither Adeyemi nor the purported council was recognised by the Presidency.”

The statement stressed that “the Office of the Chief of Staff neither creates government agencies nor issues appointment letters, noting that such responsibilities fall within the constitutional mandate of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”

Following the petition, police investigators arrested Adeyemi on October 27, 2025, at the Federal Secretariat office where he allegedly operated the fake agency. Searches conducted at both the office and his residence in Suleja reportedly yielded forged documents and other exhibits.

According to the Presidency, Adeyemi admitted during interrogation that one Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola assisted him in procuring the forged appointment letter. However, police investigations later established that “Tanimola had died in a hotel fire in Abuja five days before Adeyemi’s arrest.”

The statement said investigators concluded that “the agency was entirely fictitious and that Adeyemi allegedly forged official documents, falsely presented himself as a presidential appointee and sought diplomatic privileges reserved for legitimate government officials.”

The Presidency further claimed that investigators discovered 34 bank accounts linked to Adeyemi, including nine allegedly opened in the names of fictitious government agencies. It also alleged that he “fraudulently secured a Central Bank of Nigeria account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-general of the Federation, although investigators confirmed no public funds were paid into the account.

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Mahanga TV appoints former AREWA24 staff Zuwairiyah Girei as MD

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Mahanga TV, a Kano-based television station, has appointed former AREWA24 staff member Zuwairiyah Adamu Girei as its new Managing Director, bringing her more than 14 years of experience in Hausa-language television production and broadcasting to the organisation.

Girei was formally welcomed into her new role during a reception held at Mahanga TV’s premises in Kano on Monday, November 2, 2026, marking a new phase in the organisation’s growthe barely three months after its launch.

Speaking at the reception, Girei expressed excitement over her appointment, describing her experience at AREWA24 as a significant milestone in her professional journey.

She said she would draw on the knowledge and experience acquired during her time at the television station to strengthen Mahanga TV and drive it towards greater achievements.

“All the experience I have at AREWA24, I will bring here, and I think I will do extraordinary because I know what I have learnt there. I pray that we will see success beyond our expectations,” she said.

Outlining her vision for Mahanga TV, the new Managing Director said the organisation would look beyond Northern Nigeria and target audiences across Africa and the rest of the world.

She identified the large Hausa-speaking population as a major opportunity for the industry, noting that despite the challenges facing Hausa-language broadcasting, the sector has a substantial audience.

“We have over 60 million Hausa speakers in Nigeria, so I think we have a target audience we have to try to reach,” she said.

Girei said her leadership would focus on understanding audience expectations, introducing improvements and positioning Hausa productions for international recognition.

“Our thinking is pan-African; our thinking is the world. Our thinking is now how can Hausa film reach the Oscars. That is the thinking,” she said.

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Looking ahead to the next decade, she expressed her ambition to see Mahanga TV secure three to four Academy Awards, earn international recognition and become a household name among viewers across different age groups.

She said she envisioned a future where Mahanga TV would be the preferred television platform in homes, with both adults and children identifying with its programmes.

The Chief Executive Officer of Mahanga TV, Nuhu Abdullahi Balarabe, said Girei’s appointment was informed by the organisation’s rapid growth and the need for experienced leadership to sustain its progress.

Balarabe explained that he initially served as both Managing Director and CEO but decided to appoint a dedicated Managing Director to oversee the organisation’s daily operations and provide the leadership required to sustain its expanding activities.

He said the organisation needed someone who could provide consistent leadership and maintain its momentum as it continued to grow.

“She is well experienced, and I’m sure she will use that experience to take the organisation further from where it is,” he said.

Balarabe disclosed that Mahanga TV had recorded progress beyond its initial expectations within three months of launching, attributing the achievement to the dedication of its staff, consultants and advisers.

He said the organisation was expanding its content offerings through original productions and partnerships with independent producers to provide audiences with engaging programmes.

He also urged viewers to continue supporting the station and sharing feedback through its social media platforms and WhatsApp channel, assuring them that the organisation remained open to suggestions as it worked to improve its services.

Reaffirming the organisation’s broader ambition, Balarabe said Mahanga TV was committed to ensuring that Hausa stories, culture and experiences reached audiences across the world.

“We have a beautiful tale happening in Northern Nigeria, and I believe it is only we that can tell our own story. We want to make sure all our stories are told and they reach every part of the world,” he said.

Also speaking, Mahanga TV’s Creative Director and Brand Manager, Abdulbasit Abanikanda, described Girei’s appointment as a timely development that would strengthen the organisation’s management structure and provide better direction for its expanding workforce.

Abanikanda recalled that Mahanga TV started with a team of just three people but had since grown considerably, making the appointment of an experienced manager necessary to coordinate its activities.

He expressed confidence in Girei’s ability to advance the station’s creative vision, noting that her ambition of taking Hausa stories to audiences across the world aligned with the organisation’s objectives.

With Girei’s appointment, Mahanga TV aims to consolidate its early progress, strengthen its content production and expand the reach of Hausa storytelling, creating opportunities for Northern Nigeria’s stories, culture and creative talent to gain wider national and international recognition.

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Kano Governor Nominates Ex- Speaker, Spokesperson as Commissioners

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Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has nominated his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, and a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Balarabe Sa’idu Gani, for appointment as commissioners.

The governor has forwarded their names to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

The Assembly is expected to screen the nominees on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, said the legislature had received a formal communication from Governor Yusuf requesting the screening of the two nominees.

He added that the exercise would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Gani served as Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007, while Bature currently serves as the governor’s spokesperson.

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2027: Rep Abubakar Kabir Bichi holds strategic meeting with Kano lawmakers

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The Chairman, House of representatives committee on appropriations Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, has convened a meeting of all APC State Assembly Members and 40 Candidates in the upcoming 2027 General elections, led by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore.

Crucial issues were discussed on how best to coordinate their campaigns programs to deliver the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

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The meeting was held at his Bichi office, Sunday evening 1st November 2026.

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