PFIPC: I was tricked into meeting ‘fake’ presidential agency DG — Ben Kalu

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has revealed how he was deceived into meeting the Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, after his office received what appeared to be an official letter bearing the Presidency’s insignia.

Speaking during Wednesday’s plenary while supporting a motion seeking an investigation into the activities of the alleged council, Kalu said he was among several public officials misled into believing the organisation was a legitimate Federal Government agency.

> “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.

Kalu disclosed that on May 2, 2025, his office received a letter bearing the Presidency’s logo.

> “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,” he said.

According to him, the letter contained details that appeared authentic, including an address at the Federal Secretariat Complex and a government website, although some aspects raised suspicion.

> “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,” he stated.

The Deputy Speaker explained that he instructed members of his staff to verify the office address before approving the meeting.

> “I sent my team to go and verify the existence of this organisation at the said address. They came back confirming that this organisation was in the said location. I then gave approval for them to come and have the interaction they had written for,” he said.

Kalu noted that the council requested the meeting to discuss the ongoing constitutional amendment process, economic governance, legislative priorities and possible collaboration on foreign investment.

However, he said the discussion took an unexpected 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 demonstrated that official-looking documents could no longer be accepted as proof that an organisation is legitimate.

> “This goes on to show that a beautiful letterhead that has the Presidency is no longer confirmation that an agency is legal. It goes to show that an address that shows Federal Secretariat does not mean that that particular agency is legal,” Kalu added.

He urged lawmakers to support 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 for the House to show Nigerians that we are in support of transparency and accountability in governance,” he said.

The alleged PFIPC came under public scrutiny 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.

Following the controversy, the Presidency distanced itself from the council, maintaining that President Bola Tinubu neither approved its establishment nor appointed anyone to head it.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, subsequently petitioned security agencies over the alleged impersonation of the Presidency and the use of forged official documents.

Adeyemi was later arrested and arraigned on charges including forgery and impersonation. He has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the documents in his possession were lawfully obtained.

President Tinubu has since directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate how the alleged council was included in the 2026 budget and identify everyone responsible for the incident for prosecution in accordance with the law.

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