A businessman, Gbenga Collins, has told the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged establishment and operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) that he paid ₦400 million to the council’s embattled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, to facilitate the award of a contract.
Collins made the allegation on Wednesday while appearing before the committee probing the activities of the controversial council.
According to him, he travelled to Abuja where he was officially received by Adeyemi in what he described as an atmosphere befitting the head of a government agency.
He alleged that Adeyemi later handed him a contract award letter, the scope of work and an agreement authorising his company to execute the renovation and furnishing of the Director-General’s official residence.
“He gave me a contract award letter, the scope of work and, at the same time, the agreement with my company to execute that refurbishment project and asked me to pay the sum of ₦400 million for the facilitation of that project to show my strength that I would be able to handle it and that it would also fast-track the mobilisation for the contract,” Collins told the committee.
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Yusuf Gagdi, said Adeyemi’s continued absence from the hearings was because he is currently in police custody and is also being investigated by anti-graft agencies.
Gagdi disclosed that the committee plans to meet with Adeyemi discreetly as part of its ongoing investigation.
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Yusuf Gagdi, said Adeyemi’s continued absence from the hearings was because he is currently in police custody and is also being investigated by anti-graft agencies.
Gagdi disclosed that the committee plans to meet with Adeyemi discreetly as part of its ongoing investigation.
The committee also summoned the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) over official Federal Government number plates allegedly used on vehicles linked to the disputed council.
The House panel is investigating the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operations of the PFIPC, following allegations that it operated without lawful authority.
The probe followed allegations by Adeyemi that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, demanded 48 per cent of the council’s proposed ₦27.3 billion take-off grant.
Adeyemi also alleged that the Chief of Staff received ₦400 million through a proxy and later requested an additional ₦200 million to facilitate presidential approvals.
Gbajabiamila denied the allegations, insisting that he had no personal, official or professional relationship with Adeyemi.
He also denied demanding or receiving any money, as well as allegations linking him to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom Adeyemi claimed acted as an intermediary, and claims that he interfered with investigations or was connected to an alleged assassination attempt on Adeyemi.
Following the allegations, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.
Amid the controversy, the House of Representatives constituted a 12-member ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the disputed agency and how it was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The committee is also probing the alleged allocation of about ₦1.3 billion to the council in the 2026 budget.
During an earlier appearance before the panel, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, said none of the funds appropriated for the agency had been released or spent.
According to him, although the National Assembly appropriated funds for the council, the statutory conditions required for their release and utilisation were never met.