AGF contradicts Presidency, says PFIPC has no operational CBN account - Newstrends
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AGF contradicts Presidency, says PFIPC has no operational CBN account

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AGF contradicts Presidency, says PFIPC has no operational CBN account
Shamsedeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF)

AGF contradicts Presidency, says PFIPC has no operational CBN account

The controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has deepened after the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) contradicted an earlier statement by the Presidency, insisting that the council has no operational account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and has not received any government funds.

The clarification comes days after the Presidency alleged that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC, fraudulently opened a CBN account by allegedly using forged documents to mislead officials of the Accountant-General’s office.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had stated that police investigations revealed Adeyemi used fake appointment letters and forged official documents to facilitate the opening of the account. He, however, maintained that investigators found no evidence that public funds were paid into it.

However, responding to the development, the OAGF said the account was never activated, making it impossible for the council to receive any allocation from the Federal Government.

The agency’s Director of Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, explained that while an application to open a CBN account was initiated after Adeyemi presented an appointment letter linked to an existing government institution, the process never progressed beyond the preliminary stage.

According to him, the names of the authorised signatories required to complete the account opening process were never submitted, preventing the account from becoming operational.

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“The account has not seen the light of day. It has not received one kobo because it was never fully activated. The Accountant-General has not released any money because there is no operational account for such payment,” Mokwa said.

Mokwa stressed that the existence of a budgetary provision for an agency does not automatically entitle it to receive public funds.

He explained that although the PFIPC appears in the 2026 Appropriation Act, every government agency must satisfy statutory financial and administrative requirements before any allocation can be released.

The OAGF also dismissed reports that salaries had been paid to officials or workers of the council.

According to Mokwa, federal agencies cannot recruit staff or process salary payments without obtaining approvals from the Federal Character Commission, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the Federal Civil Service Commission, after which employees must be enrolled on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

He said none of those requirements had been fulfilled by the PFIPC, making it impossible for any employee of the council to receive salaries from the Federal Government.

“If an agency is granted a waiver to recruit, it must still obtain approvals from the relevant agencies before presenting staff details to the Accountant-General. Without those approvals, not even one employee can be captured on the payroll,” he added.

The controversy first emerged after the Presidency publicly disowned the PFIPC, insisting that no such agency exists under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The Presidency further alleged that Adeyemi forged appointment letters, official State House documents and the signature of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, while presenting himself as the council’s Director-General.

According to presidential officials, the issue came to light in October 2025 after the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) alerted authorities that the purported council was performing functions similar to those legally assigned to the commission.

The Office of the Chief of Staff subsequently petitioned security agencies, leading to investigations, Adeyemi’s arrest and his ongoing prosecution on allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation and related offences.

Despite the Presidency’s insistence that the PFIPC does not legally exist, fresh questions emerged after the 2026 Appropriation Act listed the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council under the Presidency with a budgetary allocation of about ₦1.3 billion.

The allocation reportedly includes funding for personnel, overhead and capital projects, raising questions about how an agency described as non-existent found its way into Nigeria’s approved national budget.

The apparent contradiction has triggered widespread reactions from opposition politicians, lawyers, governance experts and civil society organisations, many of whom have demanded greater transparency from the Federal Government.

Critics have also questioned reports that the council allegedly operated from offices within the Federal Secretariat and interacted with several government institutions before it was disowned by the Presidency.

With the OAGF now insisting that no operational CBN account exists and that no public funds have been released to the council, attention has shifted beyond the criminal allegations against Adeyemi to broader concerns over Nigeria’s budgeting process, inter-agency coordination and administrative oversight.

Observers say the conflicting official positions underscore the need for a comprehensive explanation from the Federal Government on the legal status of the PFIPC, the circumstances surrounding its inclusion in the national budget and the safeguards in place to prevent similar controversies.

Meanwhile, Adeyemi’s criminal trial is continuing, while calls for an independent investigation into the entire PFIPC saga continue to gather momentum.

AGF contradicts Presidency, says PFIPC has no operational CBN account

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Ex-APC Women Leader Found Dead With Throat Slit in Bauchi

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Ex-APC Women Leader Found Dead With Throat Slit in Bauchi

Ex-APC Women Leader Found Dead With Throat Slit in Bauchi

A former APC Women Leader in Bauchi South, Jemimah Dutse, has been found dead inside her residence in Bauchi State, with her throat allegedly slit by unidentified assailants.

Dutse was discovered in a pool of blood at her residence in Muazu New Layout, Yelwa, Bauchi, on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

The Bauchi State Police Command said the incident was reported at about 2:07pm by a 49-year-old man, following which detectives visited the residence and documented the scene.

Her body was subsequently evacuated to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, for medical examination and autopsy.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed that the case be transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a discreet and thorough investigation.

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The police said the investigation is focused on establishing the circumstances surrounding Dutse’s death and identifying the person or persons responsible.

The motive for the killing remains unknown, and authorities have not established any link between the death and Dutse’s previous political activities.

The command has appealed for calm and expressed condolences to Dutse’s family, friends and political associates, while assuring them that efforts are underway to unravel the circumstances surrounding her death.

The incident has also generated concern among residents and groups in Bauchi, with calls for a comprehensive investigation and improved security in the area.

The Take-It-Back Movement, Bauchi chapter, condemned the killing and called on security agencies to intensify efforts to identify and arrest those responsible.

The group also urged the authorities to conduct a high-powered investigation into the incident and strengthen security measures across Bauchi metropolis and surrounding communities.

Police said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.

Ex-APC Women Leader Found Dead With Throat Slit in Bauchi

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Kidnappers torture abducted corps members, slash ransom to N100m

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Kidnappers torture abducted corps members, slash ransom to N100m

Kidnappers torture abducted corps members, slash ransom to N100m

Relatives of 20 abducted corps members have raised fresh concerns over the safety of the victims, alleging that kidnappers have subjected them to physical torture while reducing their ransom demand to N100 million.

The prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were reportedly travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two buses along the Owerri–Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, on October 1.

The abductors initially reportedly demanded N50 million from each victim, putting the total ransom at N1 billion.

However, relatives said the kidnappers have now reduced the demand to N5 million per victim, bringing the total to N100 million.

The families also alleged that the abducted corps members were being beaten in captivity, including female victims, raising fears over their physical condition as the rescue operation continues.

A relative of one of the victims, Alimot Akande, said the situation had become increasingly frightening, appealing to the authorities to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ safe release.

According to the relatives, the abductors have maintained contact with some families through the phones of the captives and have used the communication to demand ransom.

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The families had earlier appealed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, for intervention after the kidnappers reportedly demanded the initial N1 billion ransom.

Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified efforts to locate the kidnappers’ hideout and rescue the victims.

The Imo State Police Command said its operatives had traced the suspected kidnappers to a location in the bush. However, the operation has reportedly been complicated by intelligence that the area may have been planted with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The police said drone surveillance was used to identify the suspected location of the captives, with plans underway to deploy additional operational equipment to safely access the area.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Umar Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the rescue operation.

Nadada subsequently reviewed the security deployment and directed additional tactical resources towards efforts to rescue the abducted corps members.

Police authorities have assured the families that efforts are ongoing to locate the victims and bring them home safely.

There have also been varying reports over the exact number of people abducted and those already rescued. The police initially reported that some victims had been rescued after the attack, while relatives continued to maintain that 20 prospective corps members remained affected by the abduction.

The two buses involved in the incident have reportedly been recovered as security agencies continue operations around the area.

The Oyo State Government has also joined efforts to secure the release of the victims, maintaining contact with the Imo State Government and security agencies.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of prospective corps members travelling to NYSC orientation camps, particularly along major highways where kidnapping remains a persistent security challenge.

For the affected families, the immediate priority remains the safe return of their loved ones as security agencies work to overcome the reported explosives threat and reach the suspected kidnappers’ hideout.

Kidnappers torture abducted corps members, slash ransom to N100m

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Family seeks N10m to free kidnapped newlywed, other victims

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Family seeks N10m to free kidnapped newlywed, other victims

Family seeks N10m to free kidnapped newlywed, other victims

The family of a newlywed woman kidnapped in Kwara State has appealed to Nigerians for financial assistance to raise ₦10 million being sought for the release of her and other victims still held by their abductors.

The victims were among six passengers reportedly abducted along the Eruku-Iyemero Road, a route linking communities in Kwara and Kogi states.

The incident involved newlyweds Funmilayo Bamidele and Rev. Abiodun David, who were travelling with other passengers when suspected kidnappers intercepted their vehicle.

Following the abduction, the victims’ vehicle was reportedly found abandoned around Ayetoro in Ekiti State, prompting security agencies and authorities from Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti to intensify efforts to locate the victims and rescue them.

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The family of Precious Alonge, one of those abducted, has now appealed for public support, saying they need to raise ₦10 million to secure the release of the captives.

The appeal comes amid growing concern over the safety of travellers using the route, which has witnessed security challenges and kidnapping incidents.

One of the six abducted passengers has reportedly been rescued, while efforts are continuing to secure the release of those still in captivity.

The families of the victims have continued to appeal for assistance as security agencies work to locate the kidnappers and secure the safe return of the remaining captives.

The incident has renewed concerns about kidnapping along inter-state roads in Nigeria, particularly routes connecting communities across Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states.

Security authorities have yet to provide a full account of the circumstances surrounding the abduction or disclose details of any arrests made in connection with the incident.

The families are urging members of the public, community leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians to support their efforts to secure the safe release of the remaining victims.

Family seeks N10m to free kidnapped newlywed, other victims

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