Reps Probe: Businessman alleges N400m payment to PFIPC Boss Adeniyi for contract

Gbenga Collins, the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, has alleged that he paid Adeniyi Adeyemi the sum of N400 million to help secure a contract for the renovation and furnishing of an apartment Adeyemi reportedly described as his official residence.

Collins made the claim on Tuesday while testifying before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and the N1.3 billion allocated to the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

According to Collins, the payment was made with the understanding that it would facilitate the award of the contract, a matter now under scrutiny as lawmakers continue their investigation into the council’s activities and budgetary allocation.

Collins said he believed the council was a legitimate federal government agency because Adeyemi operated from an office at the federal secretariat in Abuja, used official vehicles with government number plates, and was surrounded by security personnel.

He said he first met Adeyemi in December 2024 when he introduced himself as the director-general of the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

Collins told lawmakers that Adeyemi later informed him about plans to renovate his official residence and invited his company to execute the project.

The businessman said Adeyemi personally took him to inspect the property, accompanied by staff and security personnel.

He added that in April 2025, Adeyemi presented him with a contract award letter, scope of work and an agreement for the refurbishment project.

Collins said Adeyemi later demanded N400 million as proof of his company’s financial capacity and to facilitate mobilisation for the contract.

“I had to pay N400 million for the facilitation of that project to show my strength that I would be able to handle the project,” he said.

Collins said he raised the money from business associates who trusted him because he had personally visited Adeyemi’s office and believed he was dealing with a genuine government agency.

He claimed that the money was paid in five instalments between May and July 2025 into accounts belonging to World Entrepreneurs Limited and Sunshine Confectionery and Catering Services.

The businessman said the promised mobilisation never came, despite repeated assurances that payment would commence in August and later November 2025.

“My lawyer was the first person who told me that I had been scammed,” Collins said, adding that a petition was subsequently filed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

While admitting that he did not follow the public procurement law, Collins denied paying the money as a bribe, insisting he believed it was a condition for facilitating the contract.

He appealed to the committee to recover the funds from Adeyemi.

At the centre of the PFIPC scandal is Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu.

Adeyemi, the man accused of operating the agency, claimed the chief of staff issued his appointment letter — an allegation Gbajabiamila denied.

Adeyemi also said he borrowed N400 million to secure the PFIPC DG appointment and that his lenders have reported him to the EFCC.

Adeyemi was arrested on July 14 by operatives of the police intelligence response team (IRT) in Osun state, days after Gbajabiamila sued him for N15 billion over alleged defamation.

Some heads of government agencies had said Adeyemi submitted forged documents that led to budgetary allocations for the FCIPC.

On July 27, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, accountant-general of the federation, told the committee that Adeyemi hijacked a letter sent to the State House that could have revealed that documents used by the PFIPC were forged.

On July 29, Esther Walson-Jack, head of the civil service of the federation (HoS), said there was no due diligence in the verification of documents presented by the PFIPC before approval was granted for its staffing structure and recruitment waiver.

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