Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has explained 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 from the Presidency.

Speaking during Wednesday’s plenary in support of a motion seeking an investigation into the activities of the alleged council, Kalu said he was among those misled into believing the organisation was a legitimate 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 said his office received a letter dated May 2, 2025, with the Presidency’s insignia on the letterhead.

“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.

He said the letter contained details that appeared genuine, including an address at the Federal Secretariat Complex and a government website, even though some parts of it raised questions.

“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 stated.

The Deputy Speaker said he asked members of his team to confirm the office address before agreeing to 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.

According to Kalu, the group had requested a meeting to discuss the constitutional amendment process, economic governance, legislative priorities and collaboration on foreign investment.

“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,” he said.

He, however, said the discussion turned out differently from what had been outlined in the letter.

“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.”

Kalu said the incident showed that official-looking documents could no longer be taken as proof that an organisation was genuine.

“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,” he said.

He urged lawmakers to support the 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,” Kalu added.

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.

The controversy began after the National Assembly passed the 2026 budget with an allocation to the council, raising questions about how it was included.

The Presidency later distanced itself from the council, saying President Bola Tinubu neither approved its establishment nor appointed anyone to lead it.

Following the development, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, petitioned security agencies over the alleged impersonation of the Presidency and the use of documents linked to the council.

Adeyemi was later arrested and arraigned on allegations including forgery and impersonation. He has maintained his innocence, insisting that all the documents in his possession were legitimately obtained.

President Tinubu subsequently directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate how the council was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite not being recognised by the Federal Government. He also ordered that anyone found responsible be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law. (Nigerian Tribune)

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