11
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council has resolved to question the purported Director-General of the organisation, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, at an undisclosed location while he remains in police custody.
The committee said the decision was intended to protect ongoing investigations by security and anti-corruption agencies and to comply with an existing court order under which Adeyemi is being detained.
The panel is investigating allegations surrounding the establishment and activities of the purported council, including claims of impersonation, forgery, financial misconduct and the unlawful use of government facilities, official insignia and Federal Government assets.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, said lawmakers would not compel Adeyemi to appear at a public hearing because he is currently in police custody.
According to him, the committee will instead meet the suspect at a confidential location on a date to be communicated, in the presence of his legal representatives and police officials.
Gagdi said the arrangement would not interfere with parallel investigations being conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other security agencies.
The committee also summoned the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, to appear before it on Thursday to explain how official government number plates allegedly linked to vehicles used by the purported agency were obtained.
At the hearing, the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbenga Collins, alleged that he paid ₦400 million to Adeyemi after being promised a contract to renovate and furnish what was presented to him as the official residence of the agency’s Director-General.
Collins told lawmakers that he believed he was dealing with a legitimate government institution because Adeyemi operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, used official vehicles with government registration plates and was accompanied by security personnel.
He said he first met Adeyemi during a programme in Ogbomoso in December 2024 before later being invited to Abuja, where Adeyemi introduced himself as Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
According to Collins, he was shown the property designated for the project and received what appeared to be official contract documents before being asked to provide ₦400 million as proof of his company’s financial capacity and for contract mobilisation.
The businessman told the committee that he transferred ₦380 million in four instalments between May and June 2025 into the account of World Entrepreneurs Limited, while the remaining ₦20 million was paid into the account of Sunshine Confectionery and Catering Services.
He alleged that despite repeated assurances, mobilisation for the project never commenced. Becoming suspicious, he consulted a lawyer, who advised him that he might have been defrauded.
Collins said he subsequently petitioned the EFCC in November 2025 and was later informed that Adeyemi repeatedly failed to honour the Commission’s invitations, allegedly citing ill health through his legal representatives.
He further told lawmakers that the incident had crippled his business and forced him to sell personal assets to repay associates who contributed funds for the proposed project.
Responding to questions from the committee, Collins denied that the ₦400 million constituted a bribe, insisting it was presented to him as a mobilisation requirement rather than an inducement.
He, however, acknowledged that he did not comply with the procurement procedures prescribed under the Public Procurement Act before accepting the purported contract.
Gagdi assured Nigerians that the committee would thoroughly investigate the matter and identify all individuals connected with the alleged fake agency before presenting its findings to the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives constituted the ad hoc committee following allegations that individuals operated a purported federal agency known as the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council without lawful authority.
The allegations include impersonation of public officials, forgery, financial misconduct and the unauthorised use of government offices, vehicles, insignia and other official assets.
The investigation has attracted the attention of multiple law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the EFCC and the ICPC.
The House committee says its inquiry is intended to establish how the alleged organisation operated, identify those responsible and recommend appropriate legislative or legal action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
