Phantom Council: Reps Panel Keeps Mum 7 Days After Last Sitting

Seven days after the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged establishment and activities of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) held its last public sitting, the panel is yet to make its findings public.

The chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), in a phone conversation with our correspondent, declined to comment on the progress of the investigation, saying doing so could undermine the process.

Concerns continue to grow over the next step of the investigation, particularly after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) concluded its own probe into the controversy and cleared the Presidency of involvement in the alleged establishment of the council.

At its last public sitting, the committee examined documents and testimonies relating to the purported council, including evidence from government institutions on how the PFIPC allegedly obtained official recognition and accessed government processes despite questions surrounding its legal existence.

The committee had earlier said it uncovered what it described as extensive document fraud, including the use of purported government documents and the creation of an alleged Directorate of Administration and Support Services under the State House, which officials said did not exist.

The State House also denied issuing any appointment letter to the purported Director-General of the PFIPC, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, while the Federal Road Safety Corps explained how vehicles associated with the council obtained official government number plates.

Earlier, the committee chairman had said the discrepancies uncovered would form part of the panel’s final assessment of the matter.

However, seven days after the committee indicated that it would brief Nigerians on its findings, there has been no public statement from the panel on the outcome of its investigation or the date for the release of its report.

The committee had earlier promised to conclude the investigation and make its findings public.

Lawmakers had also said they would interact with Adeyemi, who is in custody, at an undisclosed date and location, rather than conduct the session publicly, citing the need not to interfere with ongoing investigations and court proceedings.

Nevertheless, his lawyer and family members rejected the decision and demanded a public hearing for the ‘self-acclaimed’ DG.

The committee’s final report is expected to provide clarity on how the purported council operated, the role of government institutions that interacted with it, and whether officials or private individuals facilitated its activities. (Daily trust)