Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has revealed that he was among senior public officials deceived into meeting with the self-acclaimed Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), insisting that he was a victim of an elaborate impersonation scheme.
Kalu made the disclosure during plenary on Wednesday while contributing to a motion calling for a full investigation into the activities of the alleged fake council and its reported appearance in the 2026 Appropriation Framework.
According to the Deputy Speaker, his office received a letter dated May 2, 2025, bearing the Presidency’s insignia and identifying the sender as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
He explained that although parts of the correspondence appeared unusual, the document contained details that gave it an appearance of authenticity, including an office address at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and what appeared to be an official government website.
To avoid being misled, Kalu said he directed members of his staff to verify the address before approving any engagement.
According to him, the team confirmed that the office existed at the stated location, prompting him to grant the meeting request.
“I was a victim,” Kalu told lawmakers.
“If you watch the news, you will see my picture standing beside the purported Director-General of the organisation. I was deceived just like many others.”
The Deputy Speaker explained that the visitors had requested discussions on constitutional amendment, legislative priorities, economic governance, investor confidence and possible collaboration with the National Assembly to promote foreign investment in Nigeria.
He, however, expressed concern over the sophistication of the alleged scheme, noting that the individuals involved presented themselves as a legitimate government institution and successfully gained access to several public offices.
The revelation comes amid growing controversy surrounding the purported PFIPC, which the Presidency has repeatedly described as a non-existent agency.
Earlier, the Presidency, through presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, accused the self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, of forging appointment letters and falsely presenting himself as a presidential appointee.
According to the Presidency, investigations by security agencies allegedly uncovered forged government documents, multiple bank accounts linked to fictitious agencies and other evidence, leading to criminal charges before the Federal High Court. The government has maintained that neither the PFIPC nor the Presidential Economic Advisory Council exists under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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The matter has generated widespread public attention after reports indicated that several government officials, institutions and foreign diplomats had interacted with the alleged council before the Presidency issued an official disclaimer distancing itself from the organisation.
