Fresh documents have emerged linking the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) to the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), despite claims by the Presidency that the body does not exist.
The latest revelation comes amid growing criticism of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) demanding explanations and investigations into the matter.
The Presidency had earlier dismissed the PFIPC as a non-existent body and accused its alleged Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, of fabricating documents and claims.
Presidential officials also reportedly directed the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute anyone who may have assisted Adeyemi.
However, documents obtained by media organisations reportedly showed that the OSGF approved Adeyemi’s participation in the Canada-Africa Fintech Summit held from August 3 to 8, 2025.
The document, allegedly signed by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, OSGF, Nadungu Gagare, directed Adeyemi to participate in the summit and mobilise stakeholders for the programme.
According to the document, the summit was expected to support Nigeria’s economic strategy by strengthening digital finance, technology partnerships and foreign direct investment opportunities.
The development has intensified the controversy surrounding the alleged PFIPC and further deepened questions over the role of senior government officials in the affair.
Reacting to the issue, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused the Tinubu administration of normalising scandals in governance.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said scandals had become recurring features of governance under the current administration rather than isolated incidents.
“Nigeria has sadly arrived at that point. The issue is no longer one scandal or another. The issue is the pattern,” Atiku stated.
The former vice president listed several unresolved controversies, including allegations surrounding humanitarian funds, refinery rehabilitation spending, crude oil theft and procurement irregularities, arguing that the administration had failed to provide satisfactory explanations.
The Peoples Democratic Party also demanded an independent forensic investigation into the PFIPC controversy.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, the PDP argued that the Presidency could not avoid accountability over the allegations involving the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The opposition party stated that if the Presidency’s claim that PFIPC was fictitious was accurate, then it indicated a serious collapse of institutional safeguards within government.
It also questioned how an alleged impostor could gain access to official offices, government staff, budgetary allocations and interactions with federal agencies without authorisation.
“How did an alleged impostor gain unrestricted access to the Presidency? Who authorised the allocation of office space? Who approved the deployment of staff and budgetary resources?” the PDP queried.
Meanwhile, SERAP has asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to disclose certified copies of documents relating to the approval of over N1.3 billion allegedly allocated to the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
In a Freedom of Information request signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged the National Assembly to investigate the circumstances surrounding the allocation and identify anyone responsible for any irregularities.
SERAP also requested records showing members of legislative committees involved in considering the allocation and the officials who defended the budget proposal before lawmakers.
The group stated that Nigerians have a constitutional right to know whether public funds were appropriated to an entity that was allegedly not lawfully established.
According to SERAP, the conflicting claims regarding the PFIPC raise serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s budgetary process, legislative oversight and public financial management.
The organisation warned that it could institute legal action if the requested documents were not disclosed within seven days.
The controversy has continued to generate debate across the country, with analysts warning that the matter could further erode public confidence in government institutions if not transparently investigated.
VANGUARD