The case involving Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) he claims to lead, feels like it’s straight out of a corruption-themed TV show. However, it sheds light on the deeper issues of capitalism and governance within Nigeria’s unique neocolonial structure.
For more than a year, Adeyemi presented the PFIPC as a legitimate federal agency, even securing over 1.3 billion naira in the 2026 federal budget. He ran this fictitious agency from an office in the Federal Secretariat Complex and opened 34 bank accounts, including one with the Central Bank of Nigeria. He even received recognition from high-ranking officials at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, asserting that his actions were in collaboration with the chief of staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Adeyemi claims he gave 400 million naira to the chief of staff, who was supposed to contribute an additional 200 million naira. He alleges that the chief of staff’s failure to provide this amount and his demand for 20% of the annual budget led to Adeyemi’s exposure and the public’s realization of the scandal.
The situation has escalated as Mr. Gbajabiamila has now sued Mr. Adeyemi for 15 billion naira in damages. While this may seem like an extreme corruption case to many Nigerians, it actually highlights the systemic corruption that plagues the capitalist state and its bureaucratic systems.
The state is not a neutral entity serving the public good; it is a tool used by a class of exploiters to dominate the working masses. In neocolonial capitalist settings like Nigeria, the state apparatus is used for continuous primitive accumulation. Government officials use their power to amass personal wealth and resources to maintain their grip on power, including creating war chests for elections. This involves more than just funding advertisements and logistics; it extends to buying votes and ensuring their supporters and associates are well-resourced.
Adeyemi’s actions have merely made this systemic corruption more visible, likely because of his fallout with those in power. The ruling class’s corruption is well-documented; 21 years ago, the EFCC reported that politicians had stolen over 20 trillion naira since Nigeria’s independence, often with the help of strategically placed individuals.
To combat these corrupt practices, we need a different kind of state. The working class must dismantle the current state, overthrow the corrupt system it upholds, and establish democratic control from the grassroots. Governance should be transparent, free from the bureaucratic layers that currently shield corrupt activities.
In this case, we cannot trust the presidency or the chief of staff to conduct a fair investigation, as they are directly implicated by the accused. An independent probe should be conducted by a special tribunal comprising representatives from workers’ groups and civil society organizations.
Mr. Adeyemi has a history of claiming leadership of non-existent organizations. In 2015, he falsely claimed to be the president of a global youth organization and later, the head of a United Nations body, both of which were debunked.
If Mr. Adeyemi’s allegations that the chief of staff was aware of his activities are true, it suggests the presidency trusted him to execute this fraud. Mr. Gbajabiamila, who has faced accusations of corrupt practices himself, lacks the moral authority to claim damages in this situation.
The funds allocated to the PFIPC in the 2026 budget should instead be redirected to health and social services, such as education.
It’s time to take a firm stand against corruption at high levels and the system that perpetuates these corrupt practices.
By Muda OGIDAN
