PFIPC scandal: ‘Fake’ DG deceived me with Presidency letterhead — Kalu
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has disclosed how he unknowingly granted an audience to the 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 revelation during Wednesday’s plenary while supporting a motion calling for an investigation into the activities of the alleged council, saying he was among several public officials misled by the group’s claim 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 and carrying themselves as if they are a legal entity,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker disclosed that his office received a letter dated May 2, 2025, on a letterhead bearing the Presidency and identifying the sender as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
“On the 2nd of May, 2025, my office got a letter. That letter had the Presidency on top of the letterhead. It had the Office of the Director-General, the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council. Two councils under one DG,” Kalu stated.
He explained that although certain aspects of the letter raised suspicion, it also contained details that appeared authentic, including an office address at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and the government website, pfipc.gov.ng.
“When I saw this, I looked down at the letterhead. I saw the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase 3, Second 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,” he said.
According to Kalu, he instructed members of his staff to verify the office address before approving the meeting.
“I sent my team to verify the existence of the organisation at the stated address. They came back confirming that the organisation was operating there. I then approved the meeting they had requested,” he said.
He noted that the group had sought the meeting to discuss constitutional amendment, economic governance, legislative priorities and collaboration on attracting foreign investment.
However, Kalu said the discussion took an unexpected turn.
“They said they wanted to discuss the 10th House of Representatives Constitution Amendment process and its implications for economic governance, legislative priorities that can enhance investor confidence, and areas of collaboration between the National Assembly and the Council to drive foreign investment.
“But when they came, they did not discuss the issues contained in their letter. They were more interested in taking photographs,” he added.
Kalu said the incident demonstrated that forged official documents and office addresses could easily be used to deceive unsuspecting public officials, stressing that government institutions must strengthen their verification processes.
“This goes to show that a beautiful letterhead bearing the Presidency is no longer proof that an agency is legitimate. It also shows that having an address at the Federal Secretariat does not necessarily mean an organisation is legally recognised,” he said.
He urged lawmakers to support the motion and carry out a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the alleged council.
“It is our duty, based on Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution, to dig deeper into this matter. I urge members to support this motion to demonstrate our commitment to transparency and accountability in governance,” Kalu added.
The PFIPC sparked nationwide controversy after it appeared as one of the beneficiaries in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite the Presidency insisting that no such agency exists under the Federal Government.
The controversy erupted after the National Assembly passed the 2026 budget with allocations to the council, raising questions over how an agency later disowned by the Presidency found its way into the federal appropriation process.
The Presidency subsequently distanced itself from the council, maintaining that President Bola Tinubu neither approved its establishment nor appointed anyone to head it.
Following the development, the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned security agencies over the alleged impersonation of the Presidency and the use of forged government documents, prompting investigations by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
Adeyemi was later arrested and arraigned on charges bordering on forgery, impersonation and related offences. He has consistently maintained his innocence, insisting that all the documents in his possession were legitimately obtained.
As public outrage mounted over the council’s inclusion in the 2026 budget, President Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate how the agency was inserted into the Appropriation Act despite not being recognised by the Federal Government.
The President also ordered that all those found culpable in the alleged budget insertion be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law, while directing the relevant authorities to unravel the circumstances surrounding the controversial allocation.