Mega-Scandal Erupts: Babachir Lawal & Accountant General Expose PFIPC 'Fake Agency' Financial Deception!

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) has vehemently denied allegations concerning the disbursement of public funds and salary payments to workers of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). According to Bawa Mokwa, spokesperson for the OAGF, PFIPC, led by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, has not received any funds from the Nigerian government, nor have any salaries been paid to its staff. These clarifications come amidst reports that PFIPC was included in the 2026 budget with an allocation of approximately N1.3 billion, and speculations of salary payments to its purported workers.

The controversy intensified despite the Presidency's earlier declaration that PFIPC is non-existent and that Adeyemi is a fraud. However, Adeyemi has dismissed the Presidency's stance, vowing to seek legal redress and claiming to have given N400 million to President Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. The PFIPC saga has since become a major point of public discussion, with Nigerians and politicians calling for a thorough and transparent investigation.

Mokwa reiterated the strict financial protocols, explaining that no agency can open an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or capture staff for payment without explicit authorization from the Accountant General’s office. He confirmed that there are no records of an account or staff salary payments associated with PFIPC, emphasizing that budgetary payments require such approvals.

Adding another layer to the scandal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, weighed in on the matter, asserting that the responsibility to flag such a 'fake agency' primarily lies with the SGF’s office. Speaking on Arise News, Lawal detailed how all agencies reporting to the SGF would typically have their budgets reviewed by the SGF before reaching the National Assembly. He suggested that if such an agency went unnoticed, it might indicate a 'dereliction of duty' or that the SGF's office was deliberately sidelined. Lawal emphasized that during his tenure, he would have strongly protested any attempts to bypass his office in such critical matters.

In a recent development, the Nigeria Police Force has reportedly detained Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi’s father, as investigations into the purported ‘ghost agency’ continue. Adeyemi himself is currently facing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges including conspiracy, forgery, and impersonation. The Federal Government has identified Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and ten other individuals as witnesses for the prosecution in the ongoing legal proceedings, further deepening the political implications of the PFIPC scandal and reigniting calls for Gbajabiamila’s removal from office.