ACF Raises Alarm Over ‘Fake Government Agencies’, Says Similar Office Existed Under Buhari

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has alleged that fake government agencies are not a new phenomenon in Nigeria, claiming that a similar office existed during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari before being repackaged under a different name.

The forum made the assertion amid the controversy surrounding the recently exposed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the Presidency has disowned, describing it as a fake agency.

Speaking on Saturday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Baba, said the incident highlights how individuals with deep knowledge of government processes can manipulate the system to create the impression of legitimacy.

His comments come after the head of the now-defunct PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, received ₦400 million through a proxy and later demanded an additional ₦200 million to facilitate his appointment.

The Presidency has strongly denied the allegations, insisting that Gbajabiamila neither issues appointment letters nor has the authority to make such appointments.

Questioning how the purported agency operated without raising red flags, Baba said, “One question I keep asking is, was there a budget defence? If yes, how come nobody realised that we are dealing with something fundamentally wrong?

“I read that a similar office existed under the previous administration, only to be repackaged by adding ‘Presidential’ to it.

“This could only have happened because people in government have deep knowledge of the system and could manipulate the creation of this office, which is frightening.”

The ACF spokesman stressed that the incident underscores the need for greater scrutiny and accountability within government institutions to prevent the emergence of unauthorised agencies operating under the guise of official government bodies.