Accountant-General Explains How PFIPC Emerged as Reps Deepen Investigation
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, has explained how the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) became recognised within parts of the federal administrative system, insisting that the Office of the Accountant-General did not create the council or authorise its establishment. His clarification came during an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives probing the legal status and operations of the PFIPC.
Addressing lawmakers, Ogunjimi disclosed that the Office of the Accountant-General assigned an administrative budget code to the council after receiving official documentation that appeared to originate from appropriate government channels. He explained that the issuance of a budget code is an administrative process that enables an entity to be recognised within the government’s financial architecture but does not amount to legal creation or approval of the organisation.
The Accountant-General stressed that despite administrative actions taken in relation to the PFIPC, no public funds were released to the council. According to him, there were no disbursements under personnel, overhead, capital expenditure or any intervention programme, maintaining that government financial controls prevented any payment from being made.
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the matter also directed the Inspector-General of Police to produce the alleged PFIPC mastermind, Adeniyi Adeyemi, before the committee as lawmakers continue efforts to determine how the council secured official documentation and gained administrative recognition within government institutions.
The PFIPC controversy has sparked widespread public interest after questions emerged over its legal status, budgetary allocation and administrative approvals. The ongoing parliamentary investigation is expected to establish how the council obtained official recognition and whether any public officials breached due process during the process.
