The House of Representatives Committee investigating the operations of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has directed the Inspector-General of Police to produce the primary suspect, Mr. Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, before the panel.

The directive follows revelations by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, that a forged letter purportedly originating from the State House was utilized to secure official government recognition for the organization, which also operated under the alias Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

Parliamentary Directive and Police Testimony

During the investigative hearing, committee chairman Yusuf Gagdi emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the alleged actions compromised the integrity of multiple high-ranking government institutions and officials. The panel ruled that the appearance of the suspect is imperative to verify key documentation and expedite the conclusion of the legislative inquiry.

Appearing before the lawmakers, an Assistant Commissioner of Police representing the Inspector-General confirmed that the Nigeria Police Force launched a criminal investigation following a petition filed by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President in October 2025. The police disclosed that an eight-count criminal charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud has already been filed against Adeyemi at the Federal High Court, though further specific details were withheld to protect ongoing judicial proceedings.

Scope of the Alleged Fraud

Testimony and evidence presented to the committee revealed the scale of the fraudulent enterprise, which included:

• Fabricated Documentation: Investigators identified approximately 29 allegedly forged documents, including purported approvals from the State House, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Ministry of Finance.

• Legislative Forgery: Lawmakers noted attempts to introduce a fake Act of the National Assembly designed to legitimize the non-existent agency.

• Resource and Financial Requisitions: The suspect allegedly used the fake credentials to secure office space at the federal secretariat, apply for the recruitment of roughly 300 personnel, and attempt to insert a $1.3 billion allocation into the 2026 Appropriation Act.

• Proposed Events: Plans were reportedly underway to host a major World Investment Summit under the umbrella of the fraudulent council.

Comparative analysis of signatures conducted during the hearing confirmed that signatures on documents attributed to the Office of the Chief of Staff did not match authentic governmental correspondence.

Accountant-General's Disclosures

Providing testimony on the administrative footprint of the group, Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi explained that his office initially engaged with the purported council in late 2024 following a letter bearing a State House reference number. The communication requested an administrative code for budgeting and reporting purposes.

While the Office of the Accountant-General subsequently processed administrative codes and related requests—such as applications for self-accounting status and the opening of Central Bank of Nigeria domiciliary accounts—Ogunjimi stressed that no government funds were ever disbursed.

• No budgetary provisions, salaries, overhead costs, or special intervention funds were allocated to the council.

• A requested establishment grant of 27.4 billion naira was rejected due to a lack of budgetary backing.

• The newly opened domiciliary accounts ultimately remained non-operational because the organization failed to fulfill mandatory regulatory requirements.

Ogunjimi further clarified that two civil servants originally deployed to the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser in previous years had been absorbed into the structure of the fake council without the knowledge or formal authorization of the Treasury.

The House committee concluded the session by affirming that its independent investigation will proceed alongside ongoing court proceedings, with findings and recommendations expected to be submitted in a final report upon the conclusion of the inquiry.