How ‘fake’ agency got into 2026 budget - Adeniyi

Prince Adeyemi Matthew Adeniyi, the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, has asserted that he personally engaged with Budget Office officials to secure the agency's inclusion in Nigeria's 2026 Federal Government budget. Adeniyi made these claims during an Instagram video interview with social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, following his arrest. The agency, whose authenticity is under scrutiny, was controversially allocated approximately ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act. Adeniyi sought to distance the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, from the allocation, stating he never met him in person. He recounted approaching the Budget Office in December 2024 for the 2025 budget, but was told the process was closed. Officials then reportedly advised him to target the 2026 budget. Adeniyi alleged that a female official facilitated his meeting with the Director-General of the Budget Office, who then referred him to another senior official. He claimed this director assured him efforts would continue for the 2026 appropriation after the proposal could not be accommodated in the 2025 budget. When asked about payments, Adeniyi denied offering any money, stating his only promise was to provide employment opportunities if the agency began hiring. He expressed surprise upon learning the agency had been included in the 2026 budget after his arrest.

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I went to that Budget Office for the 2025 budget. I submitted the letter and everything that I wanted, but I was told it was already late.