PFIPC controversy: Ben Kalu says he was tricked into meeting fake agency chief

Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has told how he was tricked into attending a meeting with the Director-General of the so-called Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi, following the receipt of an official-looking letter signed by the Presidency.

While speaking during Wednesday’s plenary session as he supported a motion calling for an investigation into the activities of the alleged council, Kalu stated that he was one of many government officials duped into thinking the body was a Federal Government body.

“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 PFIPC was brought into limelight when it featured among the institutions earmarked for funding under the 2026 Appropriation Act despite the Presidency arguing that there is no such body in existence in the Federal Government.

After the incident, the Presidency disassociated itself from the council by claiming that the President Bola Tinubu did not approve its establishment, nor had he made any appointment as the chairman of the council.

In reaction to the incident, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President filed a complaint with the security agencies over impersonation of the Presidency and forgery of official documents.

Adeyemi was arrested and arraigned before the court for charges like forgery and impersonation but the accused has argued that all the documents he has do not have any illegal aspect whatsoever.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered ICPC to carry out an investigation into how the fake council found its way into the 2026 budget as well as to identify all those involved in the incident for prosecution as per the law.