PFIPC SCANDAL: FAKE DG FOOLED ME WITH PRESIDENCY LETTERHEAD — KALU
Read Time:3 Minute, 1 Second
By ; Sunmola Ganiyat
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has revealed how he unknowingly met with the alleged Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, after receiving what appeared to be an official letter bearing the Presidency’s letterhead.
Kalu made the disclosure on Wednesday during plenary while supporting a motion calling for an investigation into the activities of the alleged council.
He admitted that he was among those misled by the group’s claims of legitimacy.
“I rise this morning to support the motion that has been properly moved by my friend and brother from Plateau State. It is quite embarrassing that people have the kind of boldness exhibited, moving around with what is not in existence, carrying themselves as if they are a legal entity,” he said.
According to the Deputy Speaker, his office received a letter dated May 2, 2025, carrying the Presidency’s insignia and identifying the sender as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
He explained that although parts of the letter appeared suspicious, it also contained details that seemed authentic, including an address at the Federal Secretariat Complex and a government website.
“When I saw this, I looked down at the letterhead. I saw the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase 3, 2nd Floor, Central Business District. I also saw the website, pfipc.gov.ng. It was a bit confusing for me. Some of the information looked credible, some did not,” Kalu said.
He disclosed that he instructed members of his staff to verify the office address before approving a meeting with the group.
According to him, his team confirmed that the organisation operated from the stated location, prompting him to grant the request for an audience.
Kalu said the visitors had initially indicated they wanted to discuss constitutional amendment, economic governance, legislative priorities and collaboration on attracting foreign investment.
However, he noted that the meeting took a different turn.
“When they came and started engaging, the issues they mentioned in the letter were not what they engaged on. They did not talk about the Constitution that we were amending. They were more about photo taking,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker said the incident highlighted the need for stricter verification of organisations claiming affiliation with the Federal Government.
He noted that the use of official-looking letterheads and addresses could no longer be relied upon as proof of legitimacy.
Kalu urged lawmakers to support a thorough investigation into the alleged council, saying it was the constitutional responsibility of the House to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.
The PFIPC controversy erupted after the council appeared as a beneficiary in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite the Presidency insisting that no such agency exists under the Federal Government.
The Presidency has since distanced itself from the council, maintaining that President Bola Tinubu neither approved its establishment nor appointed anyone to head it.
Following the development, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned security agencies over the alleged impersonation of the Presidency, leading to investigations by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
The alleged Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, was subsequently arrested and arraigned on charges bordering on forgery, impersonation and related offences. He has, however, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that all documents in his possession were lawfully obtained.
President Bola Tinubu has also directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate how the alleged council was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0