Post by NewsRealm (@newsrealm2025)
Chief of Staff Can't Sign an Appointment Letter. It Means the Alleged Scammer Has Been Scammed- Edward Onoja
Former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief Edward David Onoja, has questioned the authenticity of the appointment letter allegedly used by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, the man at the centre of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council scandal, insisting that the document could not have been validly issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
Speaking during an interview with SYMFONI on Friday, July 24, 2026, Onoja argued that under established government procedures, appointment letters for presidential appointees are issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation rather than the Office of the Chief of Staff.
He maintained that the reported involvement of the Chief of Staff's office in signing the letter raised serious concerns about its authenticity.
The former deputy governor said the information available suggested the appointment letter bore the signature of the Chief of Staff, a development he described as inconsistent with official practice.
According to him, if the reported facts were accurate, it could indicate that the individual accused of orchestrating the alleged scheme may have also been deceived through forged documents.
He said, "The information we have is that the appointment letter was signed by the Chief of Staff. I am a government official, Chief of Staff cannot sign an appointment letter to anybody, it is the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. It means that the alleged scammer has also been scammed."
Onoja's comments come amid ongoing investigations into the activities of the controversial council, which the Presidency has repeatedly described as a fictitious agency with no legal backing or presidential approval.
Earlier this month, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the council and submit its findings within 30 days.
The probe covers allegations of forged appointment letters, impersonation, fraudulent use of government documents, and the opening of bank accounts in the names of non-existent government agencies.
The Presidency has also maintained that forensic analysis carried out by the Nigeria Police Force established that the signature attributed to the Chief of Staff on the disputed appointment letter was forged.
Meanwhile, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claims to be the Director-General of the council, is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation.
The case has continued to generate widespread public attention, with calls for reforms to strengthen document verification processes and prevent similar incidents within government institutions.
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