Head of Civil Service Admits Due Diligence Failure

Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, testified before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). She acknowledged that due diligence was not adequately performed in the recognition process of the PFIPC, accepting full responsibility for the oversight.

Walson-Jack explained that her office relied on documents that seemed authentic without sufficient verification. At the time, there was no reason to doubt the documents as they featured the State House logo and what appeared to be a familiar signature.

However, later comparisons with genuine State House correspondence, supported by police forensic findings, revealed discrepancies in the signatures. Walson-Jack stated, “Due diligence was not thoroughly carried out to recognise the PFIPC,” and assured that her office would review and strengthen internal verification procedures to prevent future fraud.