Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has revealed how he was deceived into meeting the self-proclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, after receiving what appeared to be an official letter bearing the Presidency’s insignia and verifying an office address at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has narrated how he unknowingly granted an audience to the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Kalu told lawmakers during Wednesday’s plenary that his office was misled by an official-looking letter carrying the Presidency’s letterhead and insignia, prompting him to approve the meeting after preliminary verification.
According to Kalu, his office received a letter dated May 2, 2025, purportedly from the Office of the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
He explained that although parts of the correspondence appeared suspicious, it also contained details that seemed authentic, including an address at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and the government-style website pfipc.gov.ng.
The Deputy Speaker said he instructed members of his staff to verify the address before approving any engagement.
According to him, the team confirmed that an office operated at the stated location, leading him to grant the requested meeting.
Kalu disclosed that the visitors had requested a discussion on constitutional amendment, economic governance, legislative priorities and foreign investment.
However, he said the meeting quickly departed from the stated agenda.
Instead of discussing constitutional reforms or legislative collaboration, Kalu alleged that the visitors appeared more interested in taking photographs than engaging in the issues outlined in their letter.
He said the experience demonstrates that official-looking documents, government seals, websites and office addresses can no longer be accepted as proof that an organisation is legitimately established by the Federal Government.
Kalu urged the House of Representatives to support a thorough investigation into the activities of the alleged PFIPC, stressing that lawmakers have a constitutional responsibility to determine how the organisation presented itself as a government agency.
His comments came amid growing scrutiny over the controversial council, which the Presidency has disowned despite its appearance in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
President Bola Tinubu has since directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate how the alleged agency was inserted into the federal budget and identify those responsible.
Kalu’s revelation adds another twist to the PFIPC controversy, highlighting the sophistication with which the alleged organisation projected legitimacy. As multiple investigations continue, lawmakers and anti-corruption agencies are expected to determine how the purported council gained access to public institutions and appeared in official government processes despite not being recognised by the Presidency.