PFIPC Probe: Businessman Tells Reps Panel He Gave Prince Adeyemi Matthew N400m For Contract Facilitation

Gbenga Collins, a businessman and Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, told the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Tuesday that he paid N400 million to Adeniyi Adeyemi to facilitate the award of a contract to renovate and furnish an apartment Adeyemi claimed was his official residence.

Collins appeared before the committee probing the controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, and the N1.3 billion allocated to the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

Collins said he believed PFIPC 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 moved with security personnel.

He said he first met Adeyemi in December 2024, when Adeyemi introduced himself as the Director-General of PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, PEAC.

According to Collins, Adeyemi later informed him about plans to renovate the official residence and invited Divine Dopacy to execute the project.

He added that Adeyemi took him to inspect the property with staff and security personnel.

In April 2025, Collins said Adeyemi presented him with a contract award letter, scope of work, and an agreement for the refurbishment.

He stated that Adeyemi later demanded N400 million as proof of 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,” Collins told the panel.

He said the money was raised from business associates and paid in five instalments between May and July 2025 into accounts belonging to World Entrepreneurs Limited and Sunshine Confectionery and Catering Services.

Collins said the promised mobilisation never came, despite assurances that payment would begin in August and later November 2025.

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

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

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

The PFIPC scandal has drawn public attention over claims surrounding the council’s operations and budget.

Adeyemi, who is accused of operating the agency, had claimed that Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, 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 in Osun State, days after Gbajabiamila filed a N15 billion defamation suit against him.

Some heads of government agencies told the committee that Adeyemi submitted forged documents that led to budgetary allocations for PFIPC.

On July 27, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, Accountant-General of the Federation, told the committee that Adeyemi allegedly intercepted a letter sent to the State House that could have shown PFIPC documents were forged.

On July 29, Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, said there was no due diligence in the verification of documents presented by PFIPC before approval was granted for its staffing structure and recruitment waiver.

The committee continues its investigation.