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The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, says he was among those deceived by the Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly used a Presidency letterhead to project the council as a legitimate government agency.
Speaking during plenary on Wednesday, Kalu said the incident exposed how individuals could exploit official-looking documents to mislead public officials.
“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 said he received a letter dated May 2, 2025, bearing the Presidency’s letterhead and identifying the sender as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.
According to him, while parts of the letter appeared suspicious, other details, including an office address at the Federal Secretariat Complex and a government website, gave it an appearance of authenticity.
“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,” Kalu said.
He explained that he directed his staff to verify the address, and they confirmed that the organisation was operating from the stated location.
“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.
According to Kalu, the group had requested a meeting to discuss constitutional amendment, economic governance, legislative priorities and collaboration on foreign investment.
“They said they wanted to discuss the 10th House of Representatives Constitution Amendment process and its implications for economic governance, legislative priorities that can enhance investor confidence, and areas of collaboration between the National Assembly and the Council to drive foreign investment,” he said.
Kalu said the incident demonstrated that official-looking documents bearing the Presidency’s name could no longer be accepted at face value.
“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,” he said.
He urged lawmakers to support the motion and carry out a thorough investigation into how the purported council operated.
“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,” Kalu added.
The purported council triggered controversy after its funds were allocated in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite the Presidency insisting that no such agency exists.
The Presidency has distanced itself from the purported council, emphasising that President Bola Tinubu neither approved its establishment nor appointed anyone to head it.
