Recent controversies ranging from the Humanitarian Affairs scandal to allegations of crude oil theft and illegal tanker releases have gone unresolved, with no investigative reports made public. Concerns have also been raised over alleged discrepancies in the 2024 budget.
“From the absence of a comprehensive forensic explanation for billions reportedly spent on refinery rehabilitation while public refineries remain largely dysfunctional, to procurement controversies tied to major infrastructure projects,” the issues persist.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the National Assembly leadership to release certified records on the approval of the N1,302,978,784 allocation to the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act. The group said Nigerians deserve full disclosure on how the budget item was approved.
Reports claim the alleged agency operated for more than a year after a forged appointment letter, said to bear the signature of Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, was used to secure office space at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
Sources in the Presidency and the civil service said the documents reportedly moved through several government offices, including the Budget Office, the House of Representatives, and the Civil Service Headquarters, without proper verification.
One National Assembly source said: “It was not brought in as a stand-alone item. It was done collectively with others that came directly from the Presidency. So there was no defence or oversight.
“But I understand the Senate leadership will address the controversy on Tuesday to douse the growing tension and alleged complicity by any of its presiding officers.”
Government officials explained that Director-General appointments are normally processed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation after presidential approval, noting that the Chief of Staff does not appoint officials at that level.
One source stated: “Everyone who has ever been appointed by this President passed through a specific process. The SGF writes to the President, and once approved, the SGF issues the appointment letter.
“The Chief of Staff has never appointed anyone at that level.”
Another civil servant said Adeyemi allegedly exploited system weaknesses by attaching a forged appointment letter to requests for office allocation.
“He forged a letter with a falsified signature of the Chief of Staff. That was the loophole. Once the office was allocated, everything else followed.”
Officials added that the alleged fraud was first flagged by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), whose officers reportedly noticed activities overlapping with the commission’s mandate. What began as an administrative disagreement later became a security probe handled by the DSS.
According to Presidency sources, the Chief of Staff denied any knowledge of Adeyemi and ordered a full investigation, which led to his arrest and arraignment. However, officials noted that prosecution appeared to stall after the initial legal action.
