Accountant-General Reveals Forged Letter in Council Scandal

During an investigative hearing by a House committee, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, the Accountant-General of the Federation, disclosed that a forged letter purportedly from the State House was used to obtain official recognition for the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. This letter, received in November 2024, requested the creation of an administrative code for the council, which was processed and approved by the Office of the Accountant-General.

Ogunjimi clarified that despite multiple requests from the council, including for a grant of N27.4 billion, no public funds were ever allocated to the organization. He noted that two domiciliary accounts were opened by the Central Bank of Nigeria for the council, but they never became operational due to unmet regulatory conditions.

The investigation revealed that the initial letter did not originate from the Presidency, raising concerns about how the council passed through government processes without scrutiny.