The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has disowned the claim that the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) opened an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

While responding to claims made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the PFIPC, the Presidency had said

“The Police found that Adeyemi, using the fake documents he created, fraudulently opened a CBN account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. According to the police, no government money has been transferred into the account,” Bayo Onanuga, Presidential spokesman, had said in a statement, which exonerated Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, of any wrongdoing in the saga.

But giving its own side of the issue, the OAGF said the council never completed the process required to operate a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.

He said that made it impossible for any government allocation to be paid into its coffers.

Director of Public Relations at the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, said an application to open the account was initiated after the council’s convener, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, presented “an appointment letter“ linked to an existing government agency.

He, however, said the process stalled because the names of authorised signatories were never submitted, preventing the account from becoming operational.

“The account has not seen the light of day. It has not received one kobo because it was never fully activated.

“The Accountant-General has not released any money because there is no operational account for such payment,” Mokwa said.

He added that while the council has a budgetary allocation, the existence of a provision in the Appropriation Act does not automatically translate into the release of funds.

The OAGF also dismissed claims that salaries had been paid to staff of the council.

Mokwa explained that federal agencies cannot recruit personnel or process salary payments without obtaining approvals from the Federal Character Commission, the Budget Office and the Federal Civil Service Commission before workers are enrolled on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

“If an agency is granted a waiver to recruit, it must still obtain approvals from the relevant agencies before presenting staff details to the Accountant-General. Without those approvals, not even one employee can be captured on the payroll,” he said.

According to him, none of the statutory conditions has been fulfilled by the PFIPC.

He insisted that the council has neither an operational CBN account nor an approved payroll through which government funds or salaries could have been disbursed.

The controversy surrounding PFIPC first came to public attention after the Presidency disowned the body, insisting that no such agency exists under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

It warned Nigerians against dealing with individuals claiming to represent it.

The Presidency subsequently said Adeyemi, who had presented himself as Director-General of the council, was standing trial on charges bordering on alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences.

According to the Presidency, the matter was uncovered in October 2025 after the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) raised concerns that the purported council was carrying out functions similar to those of the commission.

The Office of the Chief of Staff to the President thereafter petitioned security agencies, alleging that appointment letters, official documents and other materials purportedly issued in the name of the Presidency had been forged.

Investigators were said to have recovered documents during searches conducted after Adeyemi’s arrest, while the government maintained that the PFIPC was never legally created.

The issue, however, took a fresh twist after the 2026 Appropriation Act listed the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council under the Presidency with a budgetary allocation of about N1.3 billion for personnel, overhead and capital expenditure.

The inclusion triggered widespread questions from opposition figures, legal experts and civil society groups, who argued that the budgetary provision appeared inconsistent with the Presidency’s insistence that the council was fictitious.

The development has since shifted public attention beyond the criminal allegations against Adeyemi to broader concerns over Nigeria’s budgeting and administrative processes.

Critics have questioned how a body the Presidency describes as non-existent could appear in the federal budget, while also demanding explanations over reports that the council operated from the Federal Secretariat and interacted with several government institutions before it was disowned.

Calls for an independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the controversy have continued to mount.

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed he intends to continue in his role despite the nation’s early elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bucking a growing trend of managerial casualties at the tournament.

The South American side were knocked out in the round of 16 following a 2-1 defeat to Norway at the Los Angeles Stadium.

Following the final whistle, the 67-year-old manager addressed his immediate future, insisting his project with the national team is far from over.

“We must continue to work and improve and find new ideas,” Ancelotti told reporters. “I believe that this loss is not the end, but the beginning of a new cycle.”

Ancelotti’s decision to stay aligns with the long-term contract extension he signed with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in May 2026, which tied him to the national team until the 2030 World Cup.

His immediate focus will now shift to the upcoming 2028 Copa America, where he will be tasked with restoring Brazil’s status as champions.

They last won the tournament in 2019 under former manager Tite, defeating Peru 3-1 in the final. Since then, Brazil have watched rivals Argentina claim back-to-back continental titles by winning both the 2021 and 2024 editions.

By confirming his continuation, Ancelotti avoids the wave of resignations and dismissals that has swept through the 2026 tournament in North America.

At least six managers have already left their posts following their respective nations’ eliminations.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman and Ecuador head coach Sebastián Beccacece both stepped down following round-of-32 exits against Morocco and Mexico, respectively.

They joined a list that includes Scotland’s Steve Clarke, South Korea’s Hong Myung-bo, Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann, Ghana’s Carlos Quieroz, and Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa, who all resigned after failing to advance past the group stage. Furthermore, Tunisia sacked Sabri Lamouchi during the opening round following a 5-1 defeat to Sweden.

Ancelotti’s squad will now return to South America to begin preparations for their upcoming qualification campaigns.

Nottingham Forest have appointed former Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner as their fifth head coach in less than a year.

The Austrian arrives at the City Ground as a replacement for Vitor Pereira, who was sacked on Tuesday – two minutes before an exit clause in his contract was due to expire.

“Oliver is a winner,” said Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

“It was clear that we share the same vision, the same ambition and the same relentless desire to succeed.”

Contact with 51-year-old Glasner, who left Palace at the end of last season, was initiated earlier this summer.

Nuno Espirito Santo began last season as Forest manager, while Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Pereira have had a spell in charge since September.

Glasner became Palace boss in 2024 and led them to their first major honour in his first season – the FA Cup – before winning the Europa Conference League last season.

They won the Community Shield in August, beating Liverpool on penalties.

Glasner said in January he would leave Palace because he wanted a new challenge, despite being offered a new contract.

On joining Forest, Glasner said: “From my very first conversations with the owner and the leadership team, it was evident to me that they have a clear vision for this football club and complete trust and belief in me and my staff to build a strong future together over the long term.

“That trust and shared commitment, together with the potential that I see within the squad, were key factors for me and I am excited about what we can achieve together.”

Glasner is one of only three coaches to win the Europa League and Conference League, having led Eintracht Frankfurt to victory in the former in 2021-22.

Marinakis said: “He has consistently demonstrated throughout his career that he can build outstanding teams and deliver success against the strongest competition.

“He has earned success through his leadership, his personality and the style of football his teams play.

“It has always been our goal to establish Nottingham Forest once again among the leading clubs in England and Europe.

“Our ambition is not simply to compete – our ambition is to win, to challenge for major honours and to create a football club that our supporters can be proud of for many years to come.”

Pereira, who replaced Dyche in February, guided Forest to 16th in the Premier League – five points above the relegation zone – and the Europa League semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners Aston Villa.