• Committee to interrogate alleged PFIPC DG in police custody
• Reps summon FRSC Corps Marshal over FG number plates

Businessman, Gbenga Collins, yesterday, told the House of Representatives that he was defrauded of N400 million after paying the money to the purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, for a contract to renovate and furnish what was presented to him as the agency’s official residence.

The revelation came as the House Ad hoc Committee investigating the alleged establishment and activities of the PFIPC, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed that it would interact with Adeyemi at an undisclosed date and location in a manner designed not to compromise investigations being conducted by security and anti-graft agencies.

This is as the lawmakers summoned the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to appear before it on Thursday to explain the procedure for issuing official Federal Government number plates and clarify how vehicles allegedly used by the purported agency came to bear government registration numbers.

Appearing before the committee, Collins said his familiarity with Adeyemi, whom he described as a fellow indigene of Ogbomoso, coupled with the trappings of government authority surrounding him, convinced him that the purported council was a legitimate Federal Government institution.

Collins, who introduced himself as the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, said his company was established in October 2017 and operates in the agribusiness sector, sourcing agricultural produce from farmers for export.

A graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Collins told the committee that he first met Adeyemi in Ogbomoso in December 2024 during a programme in their hometown.

According to him, Adeyemi subsequently invited him to Abuja around January or February 2025 to discuss a business opportunity.

Collins said that on his arrival at the Abuja airport, an official vehicle was sent to pick him up and convey him to Adeyemi’s office at the Federal Secretariat.

The businessman said Adeyemi introduced himself as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), before informing him that he intended to renovate and furnish an official residence allocated to him by the Federal Government.

He told the committee that Adeyemi personally took him to inspect the property alongside members of his staff and security personnel, after which discussions continued until April 2025 when he was allegedly presented with a contract award letter, scope of work and an agreement for the project.

Collins said Adeyemi subsequently demanded N400 million as proof of his company’s financial capacity and as a condition for facilitating mobilisation for the contract.

He said he raised the money from business associates who trusted his judgment because he had personally visited Adeyemi’s office and was convinced he was dealing with a legitimate government institution.

According to him, the N400 million was paid in five instalments between May and July 2025, with N380 million transferred into a Guaranty Trust Bank account belonging to World Entrepreneurs Limited, while the balance of N20 million was paid into an Access Bank account belonging to Sunshine Confectionery and Catering Services.

He said after receiving the money, Adeyemi repeatedly assured him that mobilisation for the contract would commence in August 2025, but the promise was never fulfilled.

Although he could not recall the exact location of the property because of his unfamiliarity with Abuja, Collins told lawmakers that he still had photographs of the house.

According to him, Adeyemi subsequently attributed the delay to security-related issues and later assured him that payment would be made in November.

As pressure mounted from the business associates who had contributed the funds, Collins said he made repeated trips to Abuja in search of Adeyemi but eventually discovered that his calls were no longer being answered.

He subsequently consulted a lawyer in Abuja.

Collins disclosed that his lawyer petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on November 13, 2025, and that he was invited to formally adopt the petition on November 19.

He said the EFCC subsequently commenced investigations and invited individuals linked to the bank accounts into which the money was allegedly paid.

According to Collins, investigators informed him that Adeyemi repeatedly failed to honour invitations from the anti-graft agency, allegedly citing ill health through his lawyer.

Collins appealed to the committee to intervene, saying the incident had devastated him financially and affected his business.

During the proceedings, Committee Chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, asked Collins whether the N400 million amounted to a bribe paid to secure the purported contract.

Collins rejected the suggestion, insisting that the money was paid because he had been told it was a condition for facilitating and mobilising the contract.

Lawmakers also questioned whether he followed the prescribed public procurement process before accepting the purported contract.

Responding, Collins admitted that he did not go through any procurement process before proceeding with the transaction.

He further appealed to the committee to prevail on the security agencies investigating the matter to ensure that justice was done.

Following Collins’ testimony, members of the committee raised concerns over how vehicles associated with the purported council allegedly obtained official Federal Government registration number plates.

Lawmakers observed that the use of vehicles bearing government number plates was one of the factors that convinced Collins that Adeyemi was heading a legitimate government institution.
Consequently, the lawmakers summoned the FRSC boss.

Responding to concerns over Adeyemi’s absence from the public hearing, Gagdi said the committee had not refused to invite him but was constrained by an existing court order under which he remained in police custody.