Again, Senate blocks ‘fake’ agency probe request

The Senate, for the second time on Wednesday, turned down a request to conduct its own independent investigation into the unfolding controversy involving the Presidency and the Director-General of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PEAC/PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.

The case, now popularly known as the “fake agency” controversy, has remained in the spotlight for over two weeks.

Kano South lawmaker, Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu, who failed in his bid to have the Senate probe the issue last week, returned with a fresh request on Wednesday.

However, the Senate again rejected the move.

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, while turning down Kawu’s renewed bid for an investigation, said it was against the Senate’s rules to dabble in a matter already before a court of competent jurisdiction.

Akpabio also explained that it would be inappropriate for the Senate to embark on a separate probe after President Bola Tinubu had already directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter within 30 days.

“In my view, the issue has been overtaken by events, as the culprit has been charged to court.

“It is now sub judice to attempt to go into it again. Mr President has already directed an investigation.

“If we go into it now, we will probably be jumping the gun,” he stated.

Senator Kawu maintained that the National Assembly should conduct its own investigation, despite the steps already taken by the Presidency.

Arguing his position last week, he said that while he commended Tinubu for ordering the probe, the National Assembly, as a separate arm of government, should also carry out its own investigation.

Kawu stated: “I commend Mr President. But he can’t do our work. We, as the National Assembly, are supposed to conduct our own investigation.

“My concern is about the budget.

“Who came to the National Assembly to defend the agency?”

On Wednesday, he attempted to raise the matter under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, but the Senate again stood its ground by rejecting his request.

Adeyemi, who has been arrested by the police, is embroiled in a controversy with the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, after alleging that the presidential aide demanded a N400 million bribe.

He also claimed that Gbajabiamila requested 48 per cent of the agency’s N27.4 billion take-off grant, allegations that have since been dismissed by the Presidency.

Incidentally, the 2026 budget contains a provision of N1.3 billion for the agency, covering both capital and recurrent expenditure.

The Presidency has denied the existence of the agency and has filed criminal charges against the controversial Director-General, who has appeared in photographs purporting to act on behalf of the government.

In a statement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga cited several instances in which Adeyemi allegedly impersonated the government and falsely claimed to act on its behalf.

Onanuga stated: “The case of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew is a clear case of a con artist who appears to have built a web of false claims to deceive unsuspecting government officials and the public into playing by his scam book. He has a history of fraudulent misrepresentation.”

The ICPC is currently investigating the matter and is expected to submit its findings within 30 days.