Presidential Economic Advisory Council controversy: Sam Amadi questions Tinubu over alleged fictitious agency

Presidential Economic Advisory Council controversy has intensified after former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi, challenged President Bola Tinubu and the Presidency over an alleged fictitious government agency.

Amadi questioned how the Presidential Economic Advisory Council controversy could emerge without officials within the Presidency detecting that the body allegedly did not exist. Writing on X, he argued that government officials should have immediately questioned when such an agency was created. He also criticised the administration, claiming it showed a lack of awareness.

His comments followed a statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who rejected claims by Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew that he had been appointed Director-General of a Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

Instead, the Presidency described the council as fictitious and identified Adeyemi as an impostor facing prosecution over alleged forgery, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

According to the Presidency, security agencies found that Adeyemi allegedly forged appointment documents, posed as a government official, operated bank accounts linked to non-existent agencies and fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account. Officials, however, said no government funds were paid into the account.

Furthermore, the Presidency urged politicians and the public not to promote Adeyemi’s claims because the case is before the court.

The Presidential Economic Advisory Council controversy has continued to attract political debate, with critics questioning how the alleged scheme unfolded while the Presidency maintains that investigators uncovered the fraud and that the matter remains before the judiciary.