Fresh allegations have emerged in the House of Representatives’ investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), with a businessman claiming he paid ₦400 million to the council’s embattled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, to facilitate the award of a government contract.
The allegation was made on Wednesday by businessman Gbenga Collins during his appearance before the House Ad Hoc Committee investigating the establishment and operations of the disputed council.
Collins told lawmakers that he travelled to Abuja after being invited by Adeyemi, where he was received in what he described as an official setting befitting the head of a government agency.
According to his testimony, Adeyemi presented him with a contract award letter, the project scope and an agreement authorising his company to handle the renovation and furnishing of the Director-General’s official residence.
Collins alleged that Adeyemi subsequently requested a payment of ₦400 million, describing it as a facilitation fee that would demonstrate his company’s financial capacity and speed up the release of mobilisation funds for the project.
“He gave me a contract award letter, the scope of work and the agreement with my company to execute the 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 committee, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed that Adeyemi was absent from the hearing because he is currently in police custody and is also under investigation by anti-corruption agencies. He added that the committee intends to meet with the embattled official privately as part of its ongoing inquiry.
The lawmakers also summoned the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) over allegations that official Federal Government number plates were used on vehicles linked to the disputed council.
The House panel is investigating allegations that the PFIPC operated without legal backing and how it was allocated about ₦1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act. The probe followed earlier claims by Adeyemi accusing the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of demanding a share of the council’s proposed take-off grant—allegations Gbajabiamila has strongly denied.
President Bola Tinubu has since directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter. Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, previously informed the committee that although funds were appropriated for the council, none had been released because the statutory conditions for disbursement were not met.
The House committee says investigations will continue as it seeks to determine the legality of the council’s operations, the handling of budgetary allocations and the various allegations surrounding its activities.
