The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee probing the alleged operations of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council has declared the appointment letter presented by the council’s self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, as fake.
The committee also said investigations revealed that the law purportedly establishing the council was forged, raising fresh concerns over how the organisation allegedly operated and processed official government correspondence.
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed this on Wednesday during the continuation of the investigative hearing at the National Assembly in Abuja.
According to him, the findings were corroborated by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who appeared before the committee for the second time in compliance with its summons.
Gagdi said the Head of Service confirmed that the appointment letter submitted by Adeyemi was not issued by the appropriate authorities, while the Act he relied upon to justify the existence of the council was equally found to be inauthentic.
“It was established that the so-called letter of appointment was fake, confirmed by different agencies, and the Act presented to the Head of Service was equally fake, forged by the DG. It was established,” Gagdi said.
Wednesday’s hearing was also attended by Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola and Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi, who represented the Inspector-General of Police. However, Adeyemi, whose appearance had been expected, was absent.
The committee had on Monday directed the Inspector-General of Police to produce Adeyemi within 48 hours after describing the establishment and operation of the purported council as a serious violation of due process.
Lawmakers said his appearance before the panel had become necessary to explain how the disputed council allegedly secured official recognition, processed government correspondence and carried out its activities, adding that the investigation would continue until all issues surrounding its operations were resolved.
