The investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) by a House of Representatives ad hoc committee has been stalled following fresh disagreements among members of the panel.
The 12-member committee, chaired by Plateau State lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi, had investigated the activities of several government agencies and is expected to submit its report to the House when plenary resumes.
The committee questioned several senior government officials over the processes through which the purported agency allegedly obtained official recognition.
Those invited included the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack; the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Director of Banking Services, Hamisu Abdullahi; the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu; and Joshua Luka, Head of the Federal Projects Financial Management Department in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The officials reportedly told the committee that they relied on documents and information provided by Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as the Director-General of the purported agency.
Adeyemi had alleged that he paid N400 million to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, through a proxy to secure his appointment as Director-General. He, however, said he never met Gbajabiamila personally.
The Presidency and the Chief of Staff’s office have denied the allegation, maintaining that the purported agency does not exist and accusing Adeyemi of allegedly forging official documents to advance his claims.
The committee had also planned to question Adeyemi at an undisclosed location. However, the plan was reportedly suspended after he insisted on giving evidence publicly in the presence of journalists and his legal team.
The development has further deepened divisions within the committee, with members reportedly disagreeing over the failure to formally invite Gbajabiamila to appear before the panel.
According to a source familiar with the proceedings, some committee members believe Gbajabiamila should be given an opportunity to respond because his name features prominently in the allegations.
The source said some members also want the committee to approach the court to secure Adeyemi’s release so he can testify publicly before the panel.
“Some of the committee members feel there should have been a presentation from Gbajabiamila since Adeyemi is alleged to have mentioned his name in the saga. So, writing a report without listening to him may attract criticism from the public.
“Secondly, some believe that the committee should write the court to release Adeyemi to testify before it in public. These are the issues delaying the report,” the source said.
The disagreements have consequently delayed the completion and presentation of the committee’s report to the House.