Documents presented during the House of Representatives’ investigation into the controversial PFIFC reportedly listed President Bola Tinubu and other senior officials as board members.
The House of Representatives’ investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, PFIFC, has taken another turn after documents submitted to the Federal Road Safety Corps reportedly listed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume among the organisation’s board members.
The documents were presented during the ongoing probe into the organisation and its activities.
The development has raised fresh questions about how the purported agency presented itself as a government-backed body and obtained official recognition from government institutions.
DOCUMENTS PRESENTED TO FRSC
According to reports, the House committee examining the matter questioned the Federal Road Safety Corps over official vehicle number plates allegedly issued to the organisation.
The documents reportedly included a purported mandate or governing structure listing top government officials as members of the PFIFC board.
The reported inclusion of the President and senior government officials has added another layer to the investigation.
PFIPC UNDER INVESTIGATION
The PFIPC controversy centres on Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, who presented himself as the Director-General of the organisation.
However, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has since said the organisation was fictitious and was not created by any law, executive order or valid government instrument.
The ICPC also said Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the appointment letter he presented was forged.
The commission said its investigation found that the purported agency also relied on other fabricated documents, including a forged gazette, to create the impression that it was a legitimate government institution.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PROBE
The National Assembly investigation is examining how the organisation operated and how it allegedly obtained recognition or services from government agencies.
The documents submitted to the FRSC are now part of the wider inquiry into the organisation’s activities.
The reported listing of senior government officials does not, by itself, establish that those officials knowingly participated in the organisation or approved its activities.
Further findings from the House committee and law-enforcement investigations are expected to clarify how the documents were produced and used.