A N1.3 billion allocation to a controversial presidential council in the 2026 Federal Government budget has sparked fresh scrutiny after the Presidency previously declared the body non-existent.
The approved 2026 Appropriation Act appropriates N1,302,978,784 to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
The allocation includes N1,002,978,784 for recurrent expenditure and N300 million for capital projects. Key provisions cover N573.26 million for salaries, N229.72 million for allowances and social contributions, N182.5 million for logistics for the proposed World Investment Summit 2026, N11 million for strategic investment negotiations and N10 million for negotiation and leadership programmes.
The budget provision has revived controversy surrounding the council after the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, publicly stated that no such agency exists under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Gbajabiamila had disowned the purported appointment of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi as Director-General of the council, describing the appointment as fraudulent.
Adeyemi, however, insisted the council was lawfully established. He accused the Chief of Staff of demanding N27.4 billion from the agency’s proposed take-off grant and alleged that N400 million had already been paid through intermediaries, with N200 million still outstanding. Gbajabiamila has denied the allegations.
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Adeyemi also maintained that the council operated from the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and maintained accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria, arguing that such arrangements could not have existed without official approval. He urged President Tinubu to order a comprehensive investigation.
The Presidency, in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, rejected the allegations and described Adeyemi as an impostor facing criminal prosecution.
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the Office of the Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force on Friday, October 17, 2025, over alleged forged appointment letters and other documents linked to the group.
The Presidency said police investigations found that Adeyemi forged official documents, falsely claimed to be a presidential appointee and used fabricated records in attempts to obtain official recognition and diplomatic support.
Investigators also alleged that he operated 34 bank accounts, including nine opened in the names of fictitious government agencies, and used forged documents to open a Central Bank account, although no public funds were traced to it.
The Nigeria Police subsequently filed an eight-count charge against Adeyemi and two others before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The case is scheduled for hearing on Monday, July 27, 2026.
Despite detailing the criminal case, the Presidency did not explain how the disputed council secured a N1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 budget, leaving fresh questions over the appropriation process.