The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has identified about 58 bank accounts allegedly connected to its Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The committee also flagged an alleged N400 million transaction which it said could involve fraudulent representations, while more than 30 of the identified accounts were reportedly operated under the names of about nine agencies, companies, foundations or related organisations associated with Adeyemi.
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed the findings on Wednesday while presenting the panel’s preliminary report to parliamentary correspondents in Abuja on the circumstances surrounding the purported council’s inclusion in the Federal Budget Framework.
Gagdi said preliminary information obtained from financial and investigative institutions showed that Adeyemi’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) and other identifying details were linked to a network of personal, corporate, organisational and foundation accounts.
The entities listed by the committee include the Confederation of United Nations Youths; FCT Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership; FCT Investment Promotion Council and Public-Private Partnership; Foreign Investment Promotion Agency; United Nations Youth Global Agency; United Nations Youth Global Foundation; World United Nations Youth Global Foundation; World Entrepreneurship University Limited; World Enterprise University Limited; FCT Investment Promotion Act; FCT Promotion Agency; and Olubadan of Ibadan Foundation.
Gagdi stressed that the committee had not determined that all the accounts, organisations or transactions were illegal.
He said the panel was still “reconciling registration records, account mandates, beneficial ownership information, signatories and transaction histories to establish the true nature and control of the organisations and accounts.”
However, the committee said it had observed “similarities in the nomenclature, objectives, management structures, signatories and banking relationships of several of the entities.”
According to Gagdi, those similarities raised concerns about a possible system of establishing or using organisations to create artificial credibility, attract funds, obtain official recognition or persuade members of the public to make payments.
READ ALSO:
- Adewale Ayuba Announces Five-Track Album
- Reps Uncover 58 Accounts, Probe Alleged N400m Transaction Linked To PFIPC DG
- Oluremi Tinubu To Visit Anambra, Empower 5,000 People
- 68-Year-Old Briton Accuses Nigerian Husband Of Using Her To Obtain UK Visa
- Uber Announces Exit From Nigeria After 12 Years
The panel also drew attention to an alleged N400 million transaction involving a company which reportedly claimed that Adeyemi persuaded it to make payments in four instalments.
The alleged payments were said to have followed representations that Adeyemi could secure a contract for the renovation, furnishing or improvement of a purported official residence allocated to him as PFIPC Director-General.
Gagdi said the committee was working to establish where the funds went, identify the account holders and beneficial owners, and determine whether public officials or private individuals were involved in or benefited from the transaction.
He added that, if proven through the appropriate investigative and judicial processes, the allegations could amount to offences such as fraudulent misrepresentation, obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation, conspiracy, forgery and offences involving the concealment or movement of proceeds of crime.
Beyond the financial investigation, the committee said its findings indicated that the PFIPC may never have been legally established.
Gagdi said the panel found no Act of the National Assembly, gazetted enactment, Presidential Executive Order or other lawful instrument creating the purported council.
He said documents allegedly used to establish the organisation’s identity and authority contained substantial evidence of suspected fabrication, forgery, mutilation, impersonation and unauthorised representation of Nigerian institutions and public officials.
The committee further reported “evidence of alleged fabrication of official documents, including a purported presidential appointment letter for Adeyemi, a purported Executive Order and a document presented as an Act of the National Assembly establishing the organisation.”
According to Gagdi, evidence obtained from the State House “established that the purported appointment letter was neither issued nor signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila.”
The committee also said the letterhead and reference number on the document did not correspond with official State House correspondence.
Consequently, the committee exonerated Gbajabiamila from allegations that he authorised, established or participated in the activities of the purported council.
Gagdi said, “the documentary evidence presently before the Committee does not establish that the Chief of Staff authorised, approved, established or participated in the activities of the purported organisation.”
He added that “the evidence showed that Gbajabiamila promptly communicated with relevant security and investigative agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, after receiving alerts concerning the activities of the organisation.”
The National Assembly committees responsible for budget scrutiny were also cleared of culpability by the panel.
Gagdi said the investigation had now turned to “how an entity that had not been lawfully established was nevertheless able to secure apparent recognition and budgetary treatment within the Federal Government’s administrative machinery.”
He said the situation exposed weaknesses in the verification of government institutions, creation of administrative and budget codes, authentication of official correspondence, allocation of government accommodation and issuance of official-looking vehicle number plates.
The purported council allegedly reinforced its claim to government legitimacy by occupying office space within the Federal Secretariat Complex and maintaining a website that presented it as a Federal Government institution.
The committee also said the organisation allegedly used the names, offices and photographs of President Bola Tinubu and other senior government officials without authorisation.
About 39 individuals were reportedly presented as employees of the purported council. The committee said it was investigating their recruitment, appointment letters, identity cards, remuneration and allegations that some applicants were required to pay money as a condition for employment.
Gagdi said the committee had recommended that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies immediately stop recognising, dealing with or granting government privileges to the PFIPC or any related entity whose legal status had not been independently verified.
The panel also recommended that “no appropriation, administrative code, warrant, cash backing, financial release or governmental facility should be processed in favour of the purported organisation.”
It urged relevant financial institutions and investigative bodies to preserve account records, transaction histories, mandates and beneficial ownership details connected to the individuals and entities under investigation.
The committee called for “the prompt conclusion of criminal and financial investigations” and said that where sufficient admissible evidence was established, “appropriate agencies should institute criminal proceedings before courts of competent jurisdiction.”
It also recommended “the tracing, preservation, freezing and recovery of proceeds or assets derived from any established unlawful conduct, subject to applicable legal requirements and judicial authorisation where necessary.”
The committee commended the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and ONSA for their roles in investigating the alleged forged documents, associated organisations, bank accounts and transactions.
It proposed stronger authentication measures for the establishment of government institutions and the creation of administrative and budget codes, as well as correspondence purportedly issued by the Presidency and other senior government offices.
The panel further recommended creating or strengthening a secure centralised digital verification system that would allow the lawful existence, establishing instrument and status of every Federal Government institution to be independently confirmed.
It said the alleged N400 million transaction should undergo a separate and comprehensive investigation, with lawful measures taken to trace, preserve, freeze and recover any proceeds of unlawful activity established by investigators.
Gagdi said the panel would continue investigating the ownership and control of the identified accounts, the alleged transaction, the purported official residence, special number plates, use of government accommodation and the roles of public officials and private individuals connected to the matter.
He added that the committee would obtain outstanding evidence from institutions and public officials who had yet to fully respond to its requests, while ensuring that affected individuals were given a fair hearing before final conclusions were reached.
The chairman emphasised that the findings were preliminary and did not constitute a final determination of criminal guilt, which remains the responsibility of courts of competent jurisdiction.
He said the committee’s final report would be submitted to the House after lawmakers return from their two-month annual recess, allowing the chamber to consider, debate, adopt, amend or reject the findings and recommendations.
Gagdi said the investigation was aimed at more than exposing a purported government agency or identifying an alleged mastermind, describing it as an effort to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s institutions and prevent private individuals from creating false governmental authority.
“The Presidency cannot be impersonated with impunity,” Gagdi said, stressing that the identity, authority and instruments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could not be appropriated by private individuals or organisations for personal advantage.
He assured that the final report would provide definitive findings, establish institutional and individual responsibilities and recommend appropriate legislative, administrative, disciplinary, civil, financial and prosecutorial action, subject to the decision of the House and due process of law.