Head Of Service Admits Due Diligence Failure In PFIPC Probe

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, has admitted that her office did not carry out enough checks before issuing approvals linked to the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council.

She told a House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Wednesday that her office relied on documents presented by representatives of the body, including papers that appeared to carry State House markings and official signatures.

The committee is investigating how the purported council obtained official recognition and processed government correspondence. Channels TV, Punch and Vanguard all reported that Walson-Jack accepted responsibility for the lapse and said stronger verification procedures would be put in place.

Punch and Vanguard reported that the approvals included an authorised establishment and recruitment waiver. Walson-Jack said the office should have done more to confirm whether the documents were genuine before acting on them.

The hearing also touched on police findings and questions around documents used by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who had identified himself as director-general of the body.

Sources: Channels TV, Punch, Vanguard