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.

An emotional Neymar said his international career for Brazil is “over” after his side’s defeat by Norway at the 2026 World Cup.

The 34-year-old came on as a 67th minute substitute with Brazil 2-0 down against Norway in the last-16 tie but could not stop the Selecao being eliminated.

Neymar did score a penalty deep into added time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey but it proved nothing more than a consolation effort in what is set to be his last appearance for his country.

“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, I finished here,” said Neymar in an interview with TV Globo following his side’s exit.

Neymar’s debut for Brazil came at the same stadium in August 2010, when he scored in a 2-0 friendly win, external against the United States.

He has gone on to become Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer with 80 goals, while his 130 appearances for his country puts him second on the all-time list behind Cafu’s 142.

Neymar had not played for Brazil since 2023 amid struggles with injuries before being selected in his country’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

He came on as a late substitute in Brazil’s final group game – a 3-0 win against Scotland – and his only other outing at this summer’s tournament was against Norway.

He was playing at his fourth World Cup – having also played for Brazil at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.