Documentary evidence before the committee did not establish that Gbajabiamila authorised, established or participated in the activities of the purported council.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has exonerated the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of involvement in the activities of the organisation, while uncovering preliminary evidence of financial and criminal activities allegedly linked to its detained Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s preliminary findings, saying documentary evidence before the committee did not establish that Gbajabiamila authorised, established or participated in the activities of the purported council.
“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,” Gagdi said.
Rather, he said, evidence showed that Gbajabiamila promptly alerted relevant security and investigative agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, EFCC and Office of the National Security Adviser, after concerns about the organisation were brought to his attention.
The committee also found that the purported PFIPC had no valid legal foundation, saying it found no Act of the National Assembly, gazetted enactment, Presidential Executive Order or other lawful instrument establishing the council.
Gagdi said the investigation had uncovered about 58 bank accounts linked through identifying details associated with Adeyemi, with more than 30 accounts apparently operated in the names of various agencies, companies, foundations and related entities.
The panel also raised concerns over an alleged N400 million transaction involving a company which claimed that Adeyemi induced it to make payments in four instalments after representing that he could secure a contract for the renovation or furnishing of a purported official residence allocated to him as PFIPC Director-General.
According to Gagdi, the allegations, if established through competent investigative and judicial processes, could constitute offences including forgery, impersonation, conspiracy, fraudulent misrepresentation and obtaining money by false pretence.
The committee said it had also uncovered alleged fabrication of official documents, including a purported presidential appointment letter for Adeyemi, an Executive Order and an Act of the National Assembly supposedly establishing the organisation.
Gagdi said State House records established that the purported appointment letter was neither issued nor signed by Gbajabiamila and that its letterhead and reference number were inconsistent with genuine State House correspondence.
The committee further exonerated National Assembly committees responsible for budget scrutiny, saying the focus should instead be on how an unestablished entity secured apparent recognition and budgetary treatment within the Federal Government’s administrative machinery.
The panel found that about 39 people were represented as employees of the purported organisation and is investigating their recruitment, appointment letters, remuneration and allegations that some applicants were required to make payments to secure employment.
Gagdi said the committee’s findings were preliminary and did not amount to a final determination of criminal guilt, which remains the responsibility of courts of competent jurisdiction.
He noted that relevant agencies should conclude their investigations, preserve evidence, trace suspected proceeds and prosecute anyone against whom sufficient admissible evidence is established.
The committee also recommended stronger verification procedures for the creation of government institutions, administrative and budget codes, presidential appointments and official correspondence.
Gagdi said the final report would be submitted to the House upon resumption from its annual recess for consideration and appropriate action, sdding that the investigation was ultimately about protecting the integrity of government institutions and preventing private individuals from manufacturing governmental authority.
“The Presidency cannot be impersonated with impunity,” Gagdi said.