Legislature
Reps Uncover 12 Fake Agencies, 58 Bank Accounts
By Bashir Mayeri
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) has confirmed that the agency does not officially exist, based on facts presented before the committee.
The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, gave the assurance while briefing newsmen on the summary of the committee’s preliminary report on Wednesday.
Gagdi said the committee, in the discharge of its mandate, invited, interacted with and received oral and documentary submissions from relevant public institutions.
He said the institutions included the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, State House Villa, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Others, he said, included the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force through the Office of the Inspector General of Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as other relevant ministries, departments, government agencies and private institutions.
“Now, to clarify this, there is non-existence of PFIPC. The committee has found no valid Act of the National Assembly that takes an Act of
Presidential Executive Orders as an administrative instrument to the modern lawful authority establishing an institution known as the ‘Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council,’” Gagdi said.
The lawmaker further explained that the findings presented were preliminary findings arising from oral testimonies, documentary evidence, financial records and submissions received by the committee.
He stressed that the findings did not constitute the final report of the committee, nor did they represent the final decision of the House of Representatives until the committee presents its full report and it is approved by the House.
Gagdi also disclosed that, in the course of the investigation, the committee discovered about 12 fake agencies connected to the one under investigation and traced 58 bank accounts.
In his recommendations, Gagdi urged the House of Representatives to formally acknowledge the timely security and administrative intervention undertaken by the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, concerning the alleged fake agency.