Clarification on the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council’s Status
The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has clarified that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) does not maintain an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and that no public funds or salaries are disbursed to the organization.
This clarification comes in the wake of ongoing discussions regarding the legitimacy of PFIPC as a government agency. Bawa Mokwa, the OAGF Director of Communications, issued a statement following remarks by Nigeria’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. On June 11, Gbajabiamila labeled the activities of both the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) as fabricated, asserting that the Office of the President has not appointed anyone to lead them.
Fraud Allegations Against PFIPC Convener
Gbajabiamila specifically identified Mr. Adeniyi Adeyemi, the convener of PFIPC/PEAC, as a fraudster facing criminal charges. Meanwhile, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidential Spokesperson, issued a statement on July 1, suggesting that Adeyemi had misled the OAGF and illicitly opened a CBN account using forged documents.
“Investigations reveal that Adeyemi obtained the CBN account through deception, using falsified documents to mislead the Accountant General of the Federation,” Onanuga stated, adding that no government funds were ever deposited into this account.
Response from the OAGF
Following Onanuga’s revelations, Mokwa reiterated to TheCable that the PFIPC received no public funds or salaries. He explained that the process to open a CBN account for PFIPC was never completed since the necessary documentation for account activation was inadequately submitted.
“Opening an account with the CBN requires the Comptroller General’s approval. The Comptroller General is responsible for authorizing such actions,” Mokwa clarified. On July 29, 2025, the OAGF directed the CBN to establish accounts for both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and PFIPC; the CBN confirmed later that accounts for PFIPC had been opened with dollar and pound denominations.
Account Status and Hiring Processes
Mokwa further asserted that Adeyemi approached the OAGF while providing a letter of appointment that was linked to a different institution, not PFIPC. He explained that while the account opening process began based on the documents presented, it became dormant due to the absence of necessary signatory details.
“The account was never operational; not a single kobo was deposited as it remains inactive,” Mokwa stated. “This indicates that Adeyemi has not received any funds from the Accountant General’s Office as there was no active account available for such transactions.”
Funding and Employment Claims
Despite reports that the federal government granted PFIPC permission to employ 300 staff members in August 2025, Mokwa contended that the council had yet to receive any funding. He noted that any potential funding would fall under the 2026 budget, emphasizing that the agency had not reached a stage to receive federal support.
Mokwa denied allegations regarding the payment of government employees, stating that PFIPC did not formally hire anyone per federal regulations. He explained that federal agencies must seek approvals from various commissions before they can recruit workers and place them on the government payroll.
“Even with exemptions, all necessary paperwork must be submitted to the Comptroller General for processing,” he added, underscoring that none of these administrative requirements were fulfilled, blocking the potential for any payroll to be established.
