Director-General of the phantom federal agency under probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew billed for arraignment on criminal charges today in Abuja may not show up in court.

This is going by the indication he gave last night on a television programme when he alleged from his hideout that his life is at risk.

Following the investigation into the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), the police filed charges of forgery, criminal conspiracy, impersonation, among others against Matthew before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case is coming up today.

Matthew, who spoke on a Channel Television programme via zoon, said instead of ICPC probe as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he would prefer an independent panel with international membership to probe the issue.

Matthew alleged that there had been repeated attempts on his life since the controversy surrounding the PFIPC broke, and appealed to the President to constitute an independent investigative panel to probe both the alleged fraud and the reported assassination attempts against him.

He said: “Definitely, I am ready to face an investigation panel. I am not hiding. I’m only afraid for my life. I have it on good authority that my life is in danger. There have been several attempts on my life since this news broke. I have intelligence reports that someone is trying to kill me.”

The PFIPC has been described by authorities as a non-existent agency allegedly created through forged documents.

Investigators claim the organisation, purportedly established by Matthew, fraudulently secured office space within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja and was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budgetary allocation of N1.3 billion, although government officials maintain that no public funds were released before the alleged fraud was uncovered.

Matthew, however, maintained that the circumstances surrounding his appointment and the establishment of the agency should be subjected to an independent investigation.

According to him, one Mr. Dolapo Tanimola, believed to have died in a fire incident, serve as intermediary between him and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Admitting that he has never met with Gbajabiamila, the embattled DG alleged that he paid N400 million, with an outstanding balance of N200 million, for the appointment.

“I gave him (Tanimola) N400 million and was to balance N200 million. They gave me the appointment before I paid the money,” he claimed.

Matthew admitted that he knew appointments into government agencies were ordinarily processed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), not the Chief of Staff.

“I knew the Chief of Staff does not offer appointments, but Mr. Tanimola delivered the appointment letter to me,” he said.

He explained that although he initially doubted the authenticity of the appointment, he became convinced after official correspondence allegedly emanated from the SGF’s office.

“The Chief (Tanimola) directed that I should write to the Office of the SGF, and I did. The SGF then wrote to the EFCC to provide office accommodation for my agency and two others.”

According to him, officials later took him round Abuja to inspect office spaces before he was instructed to pay N300 million into a Central Bank of Nigeria recovery account to secure the premises.

“When I complained to Mr. Tanimola, he assured me not to worry and said they would provide temporary accommodation pending the release of my take-off grant,” he added.

On how he raised the N400 million despite having completed the National Youth Service Corps in 2015, Matthew said he borrowed the money.

“I borrowed the money. In fact, those I borrowed it from have reported the matter to the EFCC. I borrowed the money to pay for this appointment,” he claimed.

Matthew questioned how a single individual could allegedly manipulate several government institutions without the involvement of others.

“The way some actors in government have handled this matter is unfortunate. How is it possible for one man to manoeuvre the entire system?” he asked.

While commending President Tinubu for directing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter, Matthew insisted that only an independent panel would inspire public confidence.

He said: “I appreciate our father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for asking the ICPC to investigate. It shows he is a listening father.

“However, I still appeal to him to set up an independent panel. The Presidency has already exonerated the Chief of Staff. Government cannot investigate itself.”

He proposed that such a panel should include representatives of international organisations, civil society groups, the United Nations and other independent bodies.

Reiterating his security concerns, Matthew alleged that unidentified gunmen visited his residence three times within two days.

“I want to reiterate that my life is in danger. Unknown gunmen came to my house three times within two days. They want to silence me by fire, by force,” he alleged.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and the individuals mentioned by Matthew have not publicly responded to his claims.

Government authorities have also consistently maintained that the PFIPC was never a legally established federal agency and that investigations into the matter are ongoing. (The Nation)

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