By Philemon Adjekuko.
The audacity of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who reportedly used forged seals and appointment letters to secure office space in the Federal Secretariat and even a N1.3 billion budget allocation, may be startling. However, such sophisticated scams where con artists pass themselves off as government officials or invent state structures are a documented global phenomenon, frequently occurring in Western nations as well.
The following historical examples from Ghana and the West illustrate that this type of “ghost agency” or high-level government impersonation is not an unusual occurrence:
Victor Lustig and the “Sale” of the Eiffel Tower (France, 1925): Perhaps the most famous government impersonator in Western history, Lustig posed as the Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs. Using forged government stationery, he convinced a group of scrap metal dealers that the French government could no longer maintain the Eiffel Tower and was selling it for parts. He successfully “sold” the national monument twice before fleeing, proving that even the most iconic symbols of a state can be used as props by a convincing con artist.
*Gregor MacGregor and the Land of Poyais (United Kingdom, 1820s): MacGregor pulled off what is often cited as one of the greatest frauds in history by inventing an entire country. He claimed to be the “Cazique” (a high-ranking official or prince) of Poyais, a fictional nation in Central America. He created fake government documents, a national flag, and even a coat of arms, eventually selling land rights and government bonds to British investors. His “government” was entirely a fiction, yet he managed to deceive the financial heart of the West for years.
*Anthony Gignac (The “Fake Saudi Prince,” USA/International): For over 30 years, Gignac successfully posed as a member of the Saudi royal family, “Prince Khaled bin al-Saud.” He utilized fake diplomatic license plates, wore traditional robes, and demanded the protocol afforded to high-level foreign officials. He managed to secure meetings with top Western business leaders and government-adjacent figures, leveraging his “official” status to defraud investors of millions. He was only caught recently in 2017 after ordering pork at a restaurant, which raised suspicions about his persona.
*John Ackah Blay-Miezah (The “Oman Ghana Trust Fund” Scam, 1970s–1990s): Often called the “Ultimate Con Man,” Blay-Miezah (1941–1992) pioneered the type of high-level fraud that mirrors the Mathew scandal. He claimed to be the sole trustee of the “Oman Ghana Trust Fund,” a massive secret fortune (billions in gold and cash) allegedly hidden in Swiss banks by Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.
Much like Adeyemi allegedly securing a N1.3 billion budget allocation and using forged seals, Blay-Miezah obtained a diplomatic passport from the Ghanaian military government, which listed him as a “Government Official” [
He operated for nearly two decades, defrauding hundreds of millions of dollars from elite investors and government-adjacent figures in Philadelphia, London, and across Europe. His ability to charm Western influencers and forge documents allowed him to survive warnings from high-ranking officials like Henry Kissinger and Shirley Temple Black.
While many analysts are raising valid questions about how Adeyemi was able to interact with senior officials like the EFCC chairman or gain high-level access without immediate detection, the above examples show that the “theatre of authority” is a powerful tool.
As seen in the 2016 “UN Scam,” in which Adeyemi reportedly staged photographs to portray himself as a leader of a UN-affiliated organisation, the manipulation of images, media narratives, and official appearances has long been a tactic used by con artists to bypass institutional safeguards. With the rapid rise of deepfake technology and the reach of social media, such deception is becoming even easier to execute and far more difficult to detect.
Therefore, while the Adeyemi scandal is a serious matter currently before the courts, it also serves as a reminder that verifying the credentials of those who claim to speak on behalf of governments or public institutions is a challenge shared by nations around the world. It should equally remind us to approach striking images, sensational claims, and seemingly authoritative information with healthy caution.
