Five Govt Officials Fingered in PFIPC Scandal — Police Reveal

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has identified five senior government officials allegedly linked to the activities of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The officials were named in a police investigation report examining allegations of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation and other offences associated with the operation of the purported federal agency.

According to the report, those identified include two directors attached to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The others are a Special Assistant in the Budget Office, an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and an official seconded from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The police said the five officials came under scrutiny during investigations into the alleged activities of the fake council. Investigators also questioned 22 other suspects whose names emerged during the course of the probe.

The Force said investigations indicated that some officials within various ministries, departments and agencies may have played significant roles in facilitating the alleged offences.

“Investigation further revealed that some key staff of ministries and agencies played major roles in facilitating the commission of the offences,” the report stated.

The police disclosed that an interim investigation report had been forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for further legal action.

“The Force has forwarded an Interim Investigation Report to the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation requesting him to amend the previous charge filed by the Police Monitoring Unit to include the newly established facts,” the report said.

The Force added that a duplicate case file would also be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for review and legal advice.

According to the police, the steps are aimed at coordinating investigations being conducted by various agencies into the activities of the purported council.

Police Probe ₦1.3bn Budget Allocation

The investigation has also extended to the National Assembly over the circumstances surrounding the alleged securing of a budgetary allocation for the purported agency.

The police said it had written to the Clerk of the National Assembly requesting clarification on how the organisation was able to participate in the budget defence process.

“The Force has also requested the Clerk of the National Assembly to respond to our letter of inquiry to shed light on circumstances surrounding the budget defence and subsequent passage of ₦1.3bn for the fictitious agency in the 2026 Budget,” the report stated.