JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
The House of Representatives has cleared the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of any involvement in the activities of the President’s Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), following preliminary findings by an ad hoc committee investigating the controversy.
Lawmakers said evidence obtained during the investigation showed that Gbajabiamila did not authorize or approve of the establishment or activities of the organization, while the appointment letter allegedly linking his office to the council apparently did not originate from State House.
This development comes as the committee also discovered about 58 bank accounts allegedly linked to the detained Director General of the council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, as well as alleged transactions of N400 million which are now under investigation.
While presenting the preliminary findings of the committee to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of the panel, Yusuf Gagdi, said the evidence before the lawmakers had effectively cleared the Chief of Staff of allegations that he played any role in authorizing or establishing the PFIPC.
According to him, “the documentary evidence before the Committee does not establish that the Chief of Staff authorized, approved, established or participated in the activities of the organization.”
Gagdi said investigations involving State House had proven that the presidential appointment letter submitted in relation to Adeyemi was not issued or signed by Gbajabiamila.
The committee also reportedly found inconsistencies between the letterheads and reference numbers used on the documents and official State House correspondence.
Rather than engaging in the activities of the controversial organization, the committee said Gbajabiamila took immediate action once concerns regarding PFIPC were brought to his attention.
According to Gagdi, “evidence shows that Gbajabiamila immediately communicated with relevant security and investigative agencies, including the Nigerian Police, Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, after receiving alerts regarding the activities of the organization.”
Also read: Wike Defends the Role of the Betta Edu Campaign, Says Even Prisoners Can Collect Votes
The committee therefore exonerated the Chief of Staff from allegations that he authorized, shaped or participated in the board’s activities and praised what it described as a timely intervention.
Apart from clearing Gbajabiamila, this investigation also opens wider channels into financial operations and transactions allegedly linked to Adeyemi and several organizations linked to him.
Gagdi said initial information obtained from financial institutions and investigations revealed that Adeyemi’s Bank Verification Number and other identifying information were allegedly connected to a network of personal accounts, companies, organizations and foundations.
Some 58 bank accounts were identified during the investigation, and more than 30 were reported to be operating in the names of nine institutions, companies, foundations and related entities allegedly linked to Adeyemi.
Organizations identified by the committee include the United Nations Youth Confederation; FCT Investment Promotion and Public-Private Partnership Agency; FCT Investment Promotion Council and Public-Private Partnerships; Foreign Investment Promotion Agency; United Nations Global Youth Agency; United Nations Global Youth Foundation; United Nations World Youth Global Foundation; World Entrepreneurship University Limited; World Enterprise University Limited; FCT Investment Promotion Act; FCT Promotion Agency; and Olubadan of the Ibadan Foundation.
However, the committee emphasized that the discovery of these accounts and entities does not conclude that all of them were involved in illegal activity.
Gagdi said the panel is still “matching registration records, account mandates, beneficial ownership information, signatories, and transaction history to determine the true nature and control of the organization and accounts.”
The lawmakers said they had identified what they described as “similarities in the nomenclature, objectives, management structures, signatories and banking relationships of several entities.”
According to the committee chairman, the similarities have raised concerns about a possible pattern in which organizations are created or deployed to generate credibility, raise funds, gain official recognition or persuade members of the public to give money.
One of the major issues currently under investigation is an alleged N400 million transaction involving a company that Adeyemi reportedly claims persuaded it to make payments in four installments.
The company allegedly acted following statements that Adeyemi could obtain contracts relating to the renovation, furnishing or repair of official residences allocated to him in his capacity as Director General of PFIPC.
The committee said it is tracing the movement and purpose of the funds while seeking to identify account holders, beneficial owners, and public officials or private individuals who may have participated in, facilitated, or benefited from the transactions.
Gagdi said, if proven through a competent investigative and judicial process, the allegations could reveal offenses including fraudulent misrepresentation, obtaining money under false pretenses, impersonation, conspiracy, forgery, and offenses related to concealment or transfer of proceeds of crime.
This investigation also raises serious doubts about the legal existence of the PFIPC itself.
According to the committee, investigators found no National Assembly Act, passed laws, Presidential Executive Orders or other legal instruments establishing the council.
Gagdi said the documentary materials used to project the organization as a legitimate government agency contained substantial evidence of alleged fabrication, falsification, mutilation, impersonation and illegitimate representation of Nigerian public institutions and officials.
The panel specifically said that they found “evidence of alleged falsification of official documents, including the letter appointing Adeyemi as president, purported Executive Orders, and documents presented as the Act of the National Assembly establishing the organization.”
Although the investigation raised questions about how the PFIPC allegedly gained access to official-looking documents and government facilities, the committee also cleared the National Assembly committees responsible for budget oversight of any wrongdoing.
The focus, Gagdi said, has shifted to “how an entity that is not legally established is nevertheless able to gain recognition and budgetary treatment within the Federal Government’s administrative system.”
The committee said the issue exposed serious gaps in verification of government agencies, creation of administrative and budget codes, authentication of official correspondence, allocation of government accommodation and processing of official-looking vehicle number plates.
Investigators also discovered that the alleged board operated from office accommodation at the Federal Secretariat Complex and maintained a website that described it as a Federal Government institution.
The organization was further accused of using the names, offices and photos of President Bola Tinubu and other senior government officials without permission.
Some 39 people were also reportedly presented as employees of the organization, and the committee examined their recruitment, appointment letters, identity cards and remuneration, as well as allegations that some prospective employees were asked to make payments as a condition of employment.
The DPR panel now recommends that Ministries, Departments and Agencies immediately stop recognizing or dealing with PFIPC and related organizations whose legal status has not been independently verified.
They also urge government agencies to ensure that “no appropriations, administrative regulations, warrants, cash support, financial releases or government facilities may be processed for the benefit of such organizations.”
Financial institutions and related investigative agencies are also required to maintain account records, transaction history, mandates, and beneficial ownership information related to individuals and organizations under investigation.
The committee further called for “immediate completion of the criminal and financial investigations” and said that if there is sufficient admissible evidence, “appropriate institutions should initiate criminal proceedings before a court of competent jurisdiction.”
The report also recommends “tracing, storing, freezing and recovering proceeds or assets derived from unlawful acts, subject to applicable legal requirements and court permission where necessary.”
The Nigerian Police, DSS, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission and the Office of the National Security Adviser were commended for assisting in the investigation into alleged falsification of documents, financial accounts, transactions and related entities.
The panel also proposed stricter procedures for authorizing new government institutions, administrative and budget codes, as well as correspondence purportedly issued by the Presidency and other top offices.
The report recommends establishing or strengthening a secure, centralized digital verification platform so that the legal status and instruments of Federal Government agencies can be independently confirmed.
The alleged N400 million transaction, the committee said, should undergo a separate and comprehensive investigation, including lawful efforts to trace, preserve, freeze and recover any proceeds of unlawful activities determined by investigators.
Gagdi said the panel would continue its investigation into ownership and control of identified accounts, alleged transactions, alleged official residences, special number plates, government accommodation and the role of public and private officials related to the matter.
He added that unresolved evidence would still be obtained from institutions and public officials who had not fully complied with the committee’s requests, while everyone affected would be given a fair trial before a final conclusion was reached.
The Chairperson emphasized that these findings were still preliminary and could not be used as a final determination of criminal guilt, and emphasized that this responsibility lies with the court with competent jurisdiction.
He said the committee would submit its final report to the House after lawmakers returned from their two-month annual recess.
Gagdi emphasized that this investigation is not just about uncovering alleged fake government agencies or identifying the people behind them, but also protecting the integrity of Nigerian institutions from individuals or organizations that allegedly seek to create official authority.
“The Presidency cannot be imitated with impunity,” Gagdi said, stressing that the identity, authority and instruments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria cannot be taken over by private individuals or organizations for personal gain.
He assured that the final report will contain definitive findings, identify institutional and individual responsibilities and recommend appropriate legislative, administrative, disciplinary, civil, financial and prosecutorial actions, depending on the decision of the DPR and the applicable legal process.
