The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) has declared the appointment letter presented by the council’s self-acclaimed Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, to be fraudulent.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, announced the finding during the continuation of the investigative hearing on Wednesday in Abuja, stating that multiple government agencies had confirmed the appointment letter and the document claiming to establish the council were forged.
The committee’s position followed fresh testimony from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who admitted that her office failed to carry out adequate verification before recognising the council.
She explained that officials initially accepted the documents because they bore the State House logo and what appeared to be an authentic signature. However, subsequent checks, supported by police forensic analysis, revealed that the signatures did not match genuine official records.
Walson-Jack accepted responsibility for the lapse and assured lawmakers that stronger verification procedures would be introduced to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Representatives of the Nigeria Police Force also appeared before the committee, explaining that Adeyemi could not be produced for questioning because he remains in custody under a valid court order.
Police said only a competent court could authorise his appearance before the lawmakers.
The committee subsequently adjourned the hearing until next week as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the creation of the disputed agency.
The probe also extended to allegations that the PFIPC was allocated more than N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act despite questions over its legal status.
Adeyemi had earlier accused the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of demanding a percentage of the council’s proposed N27.3 billion take-off grant and receiving part of the funds through a proxy.
Gbajabiamila has firmly denied all the allegations, insisting he has no relationship with Adeyemi and never requested or received any money.
Following the claims, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, told the committee that although funds were appropriated for the council, none of the money was released or spent because the statutory conditions required for disbursement were never fulfilled.
