The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, on Wednesday admitted that her office failed to conduct adequate due diligence before granting key approvals to the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.
The admission came as the House of Representatives’ Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the controversial agency uncovered further details of how it allegedly secured government recognition despite having no legal backing.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation also identified one of its officials, Bello Abdullahi, as the staff member who diverted an official letter meant for the Permanent Secretary, State House, to the alleged Director-General of the agency, Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi.
The development formed part of the committee’s investigation into allegations that Adeniyi used fake appointment letters, fabricated legislative documents and other false government records to establish the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
Appearing before the committee, the Director, Federal Project Financial Department, OAGF, Joshua Luka, said the office received what appeared to be an official request from the State House and, as a measure of due diligence, directed its response to the Permanent Secretary.
But Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, said investigations showed that the letter never reached the Permanent Secretary and was instead collected by Adeniyi.
Gagdi also disclosed that the Directorate of Administration and Support Services cited in the correspondence did not exist in the State House.
He faulted the OAGF for allowing the alleged fraudulent DG to collect correspondence meant for another government official.
Luka attributed the incident to the actions of an individual staff member and later identified Bello as the official responsible.
Bello admitted that he handed the letter to Adeniyi.
HoS takes responsibility
Testifying before the lawmakers, Walson-Jack said her office relied on documents that had now been established to be false when it approved an authorised establishment and recruitment waiver for the PEAC/PFIPC.
She said officials of the purported agency appeared during the 2025 Annual Manpower Budget Defence and submitted what was presented as an Establishment Act and a letter appointing a Director-General.
According to her, the documents were processed in line with existing procedures for newly established government agencies.
However, when questioned further, Walson-Jack admitted that the purported Establishment Act was not genuine.
She also acknowledged that the signature on the appointment letter allegedly signed by former Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, did not match his signatures on other official documents.
Gagdi said police forensic experts had already confirmed that the signatures were different.
He also faulted the purported Establishment Act, saying it lacked basic features of a valid National Assembly law, including citation and Gazette details.
Walson-Jack accepted responsibility for the failure and promised to strengthen the ministry’s verification processes.
Police explain Adeniyi’s absence
The committee also heard from the Nigeria Police Force on why Adeniyi was not produced before the panel despite an earlier directive.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola, representing the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the suspect remained in lawful custody under a subsisting court order.
He requested a reproduction warrant from a competent court before the police could produce him before the committee.
The lawmakers accepted the explanation and said they would take the necessary legal steps.
Probe nears conclusion
The committee said it had concluded most of its fact-finding and would release preliminary findings next week before submitting its final report to the House after the lawmakers’ recess.
The probe followed allegations that the PFIPC and PEAC were presented as federal agencies without legal backing.
The committee has so far heard from several government institutions, including the OHCSF, OAGF, Budget Office, Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force.
Lawmakers are expected to recommend legal action against individuals found culpable and propose reforms to prevent similar incidents.
This version keeps the strongest revelations upfront, reduces repetition, and uses shorter paragraphs and subheads for PUNCH’s web-reading style.
