Pressure is mounting on the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the alleged fraudulent establishment of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), with growing calls for the panel to invite Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to testify over claims linked to the controversial case.
The renewed demands came as the committee on Monday directed the Inspector-General of Police, through his representative, to produce the alleged promoter of the non-existent agency, Adeniyi Adeyemi, before lawmakers by noon on Wednesday to answer questions arising from testimonies already received during the probe.
The committee has already heard from several senior government officials, including the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack; Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu; Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi; representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and the Nigeria Police Force.
Adeyemi, who has been in police custody for more than two weeks, is expected to appear before the panel after lawmakers ruled that his testimony had become essential to clarifying allegations surrounding the purported agency.
Fresh scrutiny has also focused on why Gbajabiamila has yet to be invited, despite claims that Adeyemi allegedly mentioned his name during police investigations.
Political analyst Jackson Ojo criticised the committee for failing to invite the Chief of Staff, arguing that doing so would help clear any doubts surrounding the investigation.
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) also called for greater accountability, urging lawmakers to invite Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume to explain the role of his office in the matter.
During Monday’s hearing, police told lawmakers that criminal proceedings against Adeyemi were already before the Federal High Court and cautioned against disclosures that could prejudice the ongoing case.
Committee Chairman Yusuf Gagdi nevertheless insisted that Adeyemi’s appearance was necessary because of the gravity of the allegations and the reputations of the institutions involved.
Police investigators alleged that Adeyemi fraudulently presented himself as Director-General of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, using forged documents to seek office accommodation, recruit about 300 personnel, pursue a proposed ₦1.32 billion budget allocation and organise a World Investment Summit.
Lawmakers were also told that signatures on disputed State House documents did not match authentic official records.
Gagdi disclosed that the committee had uncovered about 29 allegedly forged documents, including fake presidential approvals, counterfeit Acts of the National Assembly and forged correspondence purportedly issued by several government institutions.
The Accountant-General of the Federation stated that although Treasury officials processed requests after receiving what appeared to be genuine State House correspondence, no public funds were released, and a request for a ₦27.4 billion establishment grant was rejected because no budgetary provision existed.
The committee is expected to continue its investigation on Wednesday with Adeyemi’s appearance before lawmakers.
