PFIPC Probe: CBN Opens Up on Fake Agency’s Bank Accounts

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that two foreign currency accounts opened in connection with the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) have remained inactive since their creation, with no funds deposited and no transactions recorded.

The revelation emerged on Monday during the ongoing investigation by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee probing the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operations of the council.

Lawmakers are investigating allegations that the PFIPC was created and operated without a valid legal framework and outside the established procedures required for government agencies and institutions.

Appearing before the committee, representatives of both the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) distanced their institutions from the establishment of the council.

The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation stated that it neither created the council nor possessed the constitutional authority to establish federal agencies.

Representing the office, officials explained that the OHCSF is only responsible for approving administrative structures of government agencies after all necessary requirements have been fulfilled.

According to the office, records showed that the council submitted a request on August 6, 2025, seeking approval for its organisational structure.

However, the application was not approved because the required supporting documents were not attached.

The committee heard that despite the rejection of the request, officials linked to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC)/PFIPC later appeared during the 2025 manpower budget defence exercise and sought approval for staffing and recruitment arrangements.

The office disclosed that the council informed government officials that its activities were being carried out largely through personnel seconded or deployed from other institutions.

Lawmakers were told that the council requested approval for a total of 314 positions. The figure consisted of 14 existing officers and an additional 300 proposed positions.

The Office of the Head of the Civil Service further revealed that concerns later arose regarding documents presented by the council as evidence of its legal backing.

Officials told the committee that upon examination, the documents failed to display essential features expected of an enabling law or valid legal instrument establishing a government body.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, also rejected claims that her office deployed civil servants to work for the council.

She maintained that the office did not assign personnel to the body and did not provide office accommodation for its operations.

According to her, matters relating to the creation, supervision and oversight of government agencies fall under the responsibilities of other relevant institutions, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The Central Bank of Nigeria also provided details regarding accounts linked to the council.

A Director at the apex bank, Hamisu Abdullahi, who represented the CBN Governor before the committee, explained that the bank opened two foreign currency accounts following a formal request from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

He told lawmakers that the request was received on July 30, 2025, and instructed the bank to create a United States dollar domiciliary account and a Pound Sterling domiciliary account.

Abdullahi stressed that the CBN only opens accounts for government agencies after receiving official authorisation from the Accountant-General’s office.

However, he disclosed that the accounts never became operational because the council failed to provide authorised signatories required for activation.

As a result, both accounts remained dormant from the day they were opened.

He informed the committee that neither account had received deposits nor processed withdrawals. The accounts also recorded no foreign exchange allocations, remittances, inflows or outflows.

According to him, the balances in both accounts remain at zero.

The CBN official further stated that the council did not engage directly with the apex bank regarding the management or operation of the accounts after they were created.

Following the submissions, members of the committee demanded more information as part of efforts to determine the full scope of the council’s activities.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Abdulmalik Danga, directed the Central Bank to submit comprehensive records relating to both the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

The committee requested details covering the opening of the accounts, their operational history and any information connected to related banking activities.

Lawmakers also instructed the CBN to work with commercial banks to identify and provide records of any accounts linked to the entities under investigation.

However, the committee is expected to continue its hearings as more government agencies and officials appear before lawmakers to provide explanations on the controversial council and the circumstances surrounding its operations.