Reps probe deepens as lawmakers uncover 19 forged State House documents

The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the activities of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, on Wednesday, intensified its probe into the controversial organisation, questioning how the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation assigned it an administrative code despite what lawmakers described as glaring irregularities in the documentation presented.

…Police fail to produce Adeniyi, cite valid court remand order as obstacle

The Committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, expressed concern that the administrative code was approved based on correspondence purportedly issued by the State House but referencing offices that investigators say do not exist within the Presidency.

The issue came to light during the appearance of Joshua Luka, the former director of the Federal Project Financial Department in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, who explained the administrative process that culminated in the issuance of the code.

Before questioning the OAGF official, Gagdi read a letter from the Nigeria Police Force explaining why Adeyemi Adeniyi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the PFIPC, was not produced before the Committee despite an earlier directive.

According to the Police, Adeniyi remains in custody pursuant to a valid court remand order and cannot be released unless the order is set aside.

Gagdi clarified that the suspect had not deliberately ignored the Committee’s summons.

“Prince Adeyemi did not shun this Committee. He remains in lawful custody under a subsisting court order, and as legislators, we will never undermine the authority of the courts or obstruct the course of justice.

“Our duty is to establish the truth while respecting every arm of government.”

He said the Committee was also mindful of ongoing investigations by the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Department of State Services and the Office of the National Security Adviser, stressing that the House would avoid taking any step capable of compromising those investigations.

Gagdi said the Committee’s investigation had already uncovered substantial evidence, including several documents allegedly forged in the names of senior government officials.

According to him, one of the most disturbing discoveries was the repeated use of a purported Department of Administration and Support Services under the Office of the Permanent Secretary, State House, an office investigators have established does not exist.

“Our investigation has established that this department does not exist.

“Yet documents bearing that office were allegedly used to obtain official recognition and process government approvals,” he said.

He further disclosed that investigators had identified no fewer than 19 documents allegedly forged in the names of State House officials.

“This is far beyond an isolated case of forgery. We have uncovered 19 separate documents purportedly originating from the State House.

“That points to what appears to be a carefully coordinated pattern designed to confer legitimacy where none existed,” Gagdi stated.

He urged Nigerians not to politicise the investigation, insisting that the committee remained guided strictly by documentary evidence.

“We should not be carried away by politics or sentiments. Let us follow the facts wherever they lead,” he added.

The hearing later shifted to the role played by the Office of the Accountant-General in assigning an administrative code to the PFIPC.

Responding to lawmakers’ questions, Luka explained that the request originated through a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, State House, and was processed in line with the administrative procedures in place at the time.

He said the Budget Office merely received a copied version of the correspondence as prior notification, while the original was expected to be delivered to the Permanent Secretary for authentication before any further administrative action.

Luka maintained that officials acted in accordance with established procedures, arguing that the problem arose because the original correspondence never reached the State House.

“The lapse was an individual one, not an institutional failure,” he said, explaining that he was on official assignment in Tanzania with the Accountant-General of the Federation when the documents were processed.

According to him, officials in the State House would have immediately detected the anomaly had the correspondence been delivered to the Permanent Secretary’s office because the purported Department of Administration and Support Services does not exist within the Presidency.

The explanation, however, failed to convince members of the committee.

Gagdi questioned how correspondence officially addressed to the Permanent Secretary, State House, eventually ended up in the possession of Adeyemi instead of reaching the Presidency.

Displaying copies of the documents before lawmakers, the chairman argued that adherence to established administrative procedures would have exposed the alleged fraud much earlier.

“If the letter had reached the Permanent Secretary’s office, they would have informed you that there is no Department of Administration and Support Services in the State House. That would have exposed the fraud much earlier,” Gagdi said.

Proceedings took another dramatic turn when an official of the Office of the Accountant-General confirmed that Adeyemi personally visited the office to collect the acknowledgement copy of the letter meant for the State House.

When asked who collected the document, the official replied, “He came to our office himself and collected it.”

The revelation triggered fresh questions from lawmakers, who queried why correspondence addressed to the Permanent Secretary, State House, was released to an individual with no official role within the Presidency.

Gagdi said the development underscored the need for government institutions to strengthen internal administrative controls to prevent official processes from being exploited by individuals seeking to legitimise questionable organisations through forged documentation.

He disclosed that the committee had substantially concluded its public hearings and would spend the next few days engaging relevant agencies through written correspondence before finalising its preliminary findings.

According to him, the committee is expected to brief Nigerians on the outcome of its preliminary investigation next week before submitting its report to the House of Representatives.