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Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has thrown his weight behind the investigation into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal, revealing that his office was among those misled by documents that appeared to have been issued by the Presidency.
Speaking during plenary on Wednesday, Kalu said the documents bore official government insignia and contained details that initially passed verification, exposing what he described as the sophistication of the alleged scheme.
The debate followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the activities of the purported council after it was disowned by the Presidency.
Kalu disclosed that his office received a letter dated May 2, 2025, carrying the Presidency’s logo, the council’s name, a government website domain and an office address at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja. To verify its authenticity, he said his staff visited the address and confirmed that the organisation operated there before approving a meeting with its representatives.
“I was a victim of this crime. When I saw this, it was a bit confusing for me. Some of the information looked credible, some did not. I sent my team to verify the existence of this organisation at the stated address. They came back confirming that the organisation was there. I then approved the meeting,” he said.
According to Kalu, the delegation requested discussions on constitutional amendment, economic governance, legislative priorities and attracting foreign investment. However, he became suspicious when the visitors appeared more interested in taking photographs than engaging on the issues outlined in their letter.
The deputy speaker said the incident demonstrated that official logos, government addresses and formal-looking correspondence could no longer be accepted at face value, urging public institutions to strengthen their verification processes.
He also called for a thorough investigation into how the purported council gained access to government facilities, interacted with senior public officials and allegedly secured a place in the federal budget, stressing that the House of Representatives must ensure full accountability and restore public confidence in government institutions.
