Reps panel to question alleged PFIPC DG at undisclosed location, hears N400m contract claim

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) says it will question the council’s Director-General, Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, at an undisclosed location and date in deference to ongoing judicial proceedings and investigations.

 

Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed this during the panel’s sitting on Tuesday, explaining that the National Assembly would not violate the constitutional principle of separation of powers by seeking to override a court order.

 

“We do not have the power as the National Assembly to vacate an existing court order and say that somebody who is in the custody of the Nigerian Police should leave the police to appear before the National Assembly,” Gagdi said.

 

He explained that the committee would meet Adeyemi privately to avoid compromising investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ongoing court proceedings.

 

“Whether he appears before this committee or this committee appears before him, the most important thing is to have an interaction with him to get some things clarified. And we are going to do just that,” he added.

 

Gagdi said the meeting would be recorded and conducted in the presence of Adeyemi’s legal representatives, with the police notified in advance.

 

The committee also announced that its public hearing would continue on Thursday as it concludes outstanding engagements.

 

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Gbenga Collins, told lawmakers that he allegedly paid ₦400 million to Adeyemi after being promised a contract to renovate and furnish what was presented as the official residence of the PFIPC Director-General.

 

Collins said his company, established in 2017 and operating in the agribusiness sector, was introduced to Adeyemi, who presented himself as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the PFIPC.

 

According to him, the presence of security personnel, official government vehicles and what appeared to be a functioning government office convinced him that the agency was genuine.

 

“I saw police officers with him. That was my first time of coming to Abuja because I’m not familiar with Abuja very well. He sent his official car to pick me from the airport. It had a Federal Government registration number attached to the Lexus SUV,” Collins testified.

 

He further alleged that Adeyemi offered his company a contract to refurbish the official residence allocated to him and requested a ₦400 million payment as proof of the firm’s financial capacity and to facilitate mobilisation for the project.

 

“He gave me the contract award letter, the scope of work and the agreement with my company to execute the refurbishment project.

 

“I had to pay ₦400 million for the facilitation of that project to show my strength that I would be able to handle the project. At the same time, he said it would fast-track the mobilisation for the contract,” Collins told the committee.

 

The House panel is investigating the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operations of the alleged PFIPC, following claims by the Presidency that the body lacked legal backing despite reportedly operating as a government agency and receiving budgetary allocations.