The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the controversy surrounding the alleged funding of a fictitious government agency in the 2026 budget.

An ad hoc committee has been mandated to interface with the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Director-General of the Budget Office, and other relevant government officials.

In recent weeks, allegations and counter-allegations over the creation and funding of a purported government agency, the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), have dominated both conventional and social media.

The controversy was brought before the House by Plateau State lawmaker, Yusuf Gagdi, through a motion of urgent public importance, calling on Parliament to unravel the circumstances surrounding the agency.

Gagdi expressed concern over reports that more than ₦1.3 billion was allocated to the unrecognised agency in the 2026 budget.

Lawmakers described the development as a serious threat to the credibility of the nation’s budget process, insisting that anyone found culpable must be held accountable.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, whose photograph with the Director-General of the organisation has circulated publicly, also backed the probe, saying a thorough investigation is necessary to protect the integrity of public institutions.

He disclosed that his office had received correspondence from the organisation, which presented itself as a presidency-linked body operating from the Federal Secretariat.

The House will also receive briefings from relevant security and anti-corruption agencies, while ensuring it does not interfere with any ongoing litigation.

The controversy centres on Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims he was lawfully appointed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), despite the Presidency’s insistence that no such government agency exists.

Adeyemi alleged that the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, received ₦400 million through a proxy and later demanded an additional ₦200 million to facilitate his appointment.

He also argued that the PFIPC exists, citing its inclusion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, and called on President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the matter, saying he is prepared to defend his allegations in court.

The Presidency, however, rejected the claims, with the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, describing Adeyemi as an impostor.

It alleged that he forged appointment documents, impersonated a government official, fraudulently opened a Central Bank of Nigeria account and operated under a non-existent government agency.

The Presidency also disclosed that police investigations led to an eight-count criminal charge against Adeyemi and two others, with the matter scheduled for hearing on July 27.

Separately, Gbajabiamila threatened a ₦10 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi over allegations of bribery and murder.

In a letter signed by his counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, the Chief of Staff demanded that Adeyemi remove all videos and comments containing the allegations within 72 hours, publish a retraction and apology in at least five national newspapers and on social media, and undertake not to make any further defamatory statements.

Pinheiro described the allegations as “malicious, reckless and entirely without factual foundation” and warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated period would result in legal proceedings, including a criminal defamation complaint in line with applicable laws of the Federal Capital Territory. (Channels TV)

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