'I Was a Victim' — Deputy Speaker Kalu Explains How PFIPC Allegedly Deceived Him

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has revealed that he was among senior government officials allegedly deceived by individuals behind the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the incident as a carefully orchestrated impersonation scheme.

Kalu made the disclosure during plenary while lawmakers debated a motion seeking an investigation into the alleged inclusion of the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Framework.

He said photographs of his meeting with the group's purported leadership were widely circulated, creating the false impression that the organisation enjoyed official recognition from the Federal Government.

"I was a victim, and I'm sure if you watch the news, you would see my picture all over the screen standing side by side with the purported Director-General of this organisation," Kalu told lawmakers.

The Deputy Speaker explained that the encounter began after his office received a letter dated May 2, 2025 from an organisation identifying itself as both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

According to him, the correspondence carried the Presidency's insignia, listed an office address within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase Three, Abuja, and included what appeared to be an official government website, giving every indication that the organisation was a legitimate government institution.

Kalu said his office took additional steps to verify the claims before granting the meeting.

"I sent my team to verify the existence of this organisation at the stated address. They came back confirming that the organisation was operating from that location," he said.

Based on the verification, he approved a meeting with the delegation, believing it intended to discuss constitutional amendment efforts, legislative reforms aimed at improving investor confidence and possible collaboration with the National Assembly.

However, he said the meeting quickly raised concerns after the delegation failed to discuss any of the issues outlined in its correspondence.

"They did not talk about the constitutional amendment that we were undertaking. They did not discuss the issues they listed in their letter. They were more interested in taking photographs," Kalu said.

He noted that the unusual conduct immediately raised questions about whether the visitors were genuinely acting on behalf of the Presidency.

Reflecting on the experience, Kalu warned that official-looking documents, government logos and physical office addresses can no longer be relied upon as proof that an organisation is legally established.

"This goes to show that a beautiful letterhead bearing the Presidency is no longer sufficient confirmation that an agency is legitimate. It also shows that an address at the Federal Secretariat does not necessarily mean an organisation is legally established," he said.

The Deputy Speaker argued that the incident exposed serious institutional gaps that allowed individuals to allegedly exploit government symbols and infrastructure to gain access to senior public officials.

He maintained that the House of Representatives has a constitutional responsibility under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution to investigate how the organisation allegedly secured office space within the Federal Secretariat, gained access to top government officials and was reportedly included in the 2026 federal budget.

"I'm happy this matter has come before Parliament. We owe Nigerians a duty to get to the root of this issue and demonstrate that we stand for transparency and accountability in governance," he said.

Following deliberations, the House adopted the motion and resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the alleged inclusion of the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Framework.

The PFIPC controversy has generated widespread attention after the Presidency disowned the organisation, insisting that neither the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council nor the Presidential Economic Advisory Council exists under President Bola Tinubu's administration.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has also stated that Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claimed to be the Director-General of both organisations, was never appointed by the Presidency.

The controversy further intensified after reports emerged that about ₦1.3 billion was appropriated for the alleged council in the 2026 budget, prompting separate investigations by the executive and the National Assembly into how the budgetary allocation was made.