Official documents obtained by Saturday Punch have raised fresh questions over the Presidency’s claim that the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) never existed.
The documents showed that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) received, acknowledged and acted on correspondence submitted in the name of the council months before the Presidency publicly disowned same.
It was reported that one of the documents indicated that the office of the SGF had processed and forwarded a request by the council’s self-styled Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, for office accommodation from recovered Federal Government properties through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The letter, dated November 21, 2024, was signed by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, on behalf of the SGF.
Registry stamps on Adeyemi’s letter, dated November 7, 2024, showed that it was received by the SGF’s office on November 12 and sent to the EFCC nine days later.
The forwarding letter titled, “Request for Office Accommodation”, said, “I am directed to forward attached copies of letters requesting allocation of office accommodation from the recovered Federal Government landed properties for further necessary action.
Adeyemi in his letter to the SGF, described the PFIPC as a Federal Government investment promotion agency saddled with the responsibility of attracting foreign direct investment into Nigeria.
He said the council “also serves as the resource and coordinating centre for the Nation’s Foreign Investment Promotion activities, a One-Stop-Shop for Investments centre coordinating investment-related activities across ministries, departments and agencies and promoting Nigeria as a preferred investment destination.
The letter added that the council “facilitates the interaction between public and private sectors, and has an active role in policy advocacy and promotes a positive image of Nigeria as a country attractive to foreign investors.”
Adeyemi is being prosecuted for allegedly operating a fake government agency, forging a presidential appointment letter purportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila and falsely representing himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC.
He was also accused of operating 34 bank accounts, some under the names of alleged government agencies, and carrying out official business under the banner of the council.
But in a statement Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the PFIPC was fictitious.
The statement titled “Re: The Matter of Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew and the Fictitious Presidential Economic Advisory Council” detailed the criminal case against Adeyemi, including a police investigation report, charges filed against him and allegations of fraudulent conduct.
