A Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has said a police investigation established that a purported State House appointment letter circulating in connection with a controversial appointment claim was forged.
Speaking on the matter, Ajayi said the police report found that both the Chief of Staff to the President’s signature and the official State House letterhead had been falsified.
According to him, one clear indication of forgery was the inclusion of telephone numbers on the purported State House letterhead, noting that genuine State House letterheads do not carry phone numbers.
“We have seen the police report on the appointment letter, and it was clearly established that the signature of the Chief of Staff was forged. The State House letterhead was forged. In fact, in our own letterheads, we don’t put phone numbers; those who forged the letterheads put phone numbers,” Ajayi said.
He further explained that the Chief of Staff does not have the authority to issue appointment letters, stressing that the office only conveys the President’s approvals to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who is responsible for issuing official appointment letters.
“More importantly, the Chief of Staff doesn’t issue appointment letters. He only conveys the approvals of the President to the SGF, and the SGF issues appointment letters. So when you hear anyone saying that the Chief of Staff issued an appointment letter to him, that’s the first red flag,” he added.
The clarification comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged fake presidential appointments and forged official documents.
The Presidency had earlier distanced itself from claims by an individual who allegedly presented himself as the head of a non-existent presidential council, insisting that no such body exists and warning the public against fraudulent claims involving the Presidency.
State House officials have maintained that all presidential appointments follow established procedures, with formal documentation issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation after presidential approval. #Secruitynewsalert.com
