…Exonerate Gbajabiamila
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has uncovered 12 fake agencies, companies, foundations, and organisations allegedly linked to the self-acclaimed Director-General of the council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Yusuf Gadgi, in a preliminary report presented at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday, said evidence showed that Adeyemi’s Bank Verification Number and other identifying details were linked to a substantial network of personal, corporate, organisational and foundation accounts.
Among the entities identified are the Confederation of United Nations Youths, FCT Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership, FCT Investment Promotion Council and Public-Private Partnership, Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and United Nations Youth Global Agency.
Others are United Nations Youth Global Foundation, World United Nations Youth Global Foundation, World Entrepreneurship University Limited, World Enterprise University Limited, FCT Investment Promotion Act, FCT Promotion Agency and Olubadan of Ibadan Foundation.
The committee said preliminary information indicated that about 58 bank accounts were linked through the relevant identifying details, while more than 30 accounts appeared to have been operated in the names of about nine agencies, companies, foundations or related entities.
However, the committee said it has not concluded that every identified account, entity or transaction was unlawful.
“The Committee is reconciling registration records, account mandates, beneficial ownership information, signatories and transaction histories to determine the true nature and control of the identified entities and accounts.
“The similarities in nomenclature, objectives, management structures, signatories and bank-account relationships raise a legitimate investigative concern that multiple organisations may have been created or deployed using governmental, international, investment, educational, charitable, foundation or United Nations-related identities.
“Evidence presently before the Committee suggests that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi may have been connected, directly or indirectly, with more than twelve such entities.
“The Committee is determining whether these entities were conceived or utilised to create artificial credibility, solicit funds, obtain investments, procure official recognition, secure government facilities or induce members of the public to part with money,” the report stated.
The panel said it received and examined official correspondence demonstrating that concerns regarding the purported organisation had previously been brought to the attention of the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
“Evidence indicated that following an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission concerning suspected fraudulent activities and misuse of institutional materials, the Chief of Staff acted within one day by communicating with relevant security and investigative institutions, including the Nigeria Police Force, Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“He also initiated administrative verification through the appropriate government institutions. When further concerns emerged, including matters related to a proposed World Investment Summit, additional communications requesting an investigation and appropriate action were issued.
“The documentary evidence presently before the Committee does not establish that the Chief of Staff authorised, approved, established or participated in the activities of the purported organisation. On the contrary, the evidence demonstrates repeated steps to secure investigation, institutional verification and appropriate administrative action.
“The Committee therefore preliminarily commends Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for the timely security and administrative interventions undertaken whenever the matter was formally brought to his attention,” the report reads in parts.
