The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has been tasked to ensure that Adeniyi Adeyemi, the alleged promoter of the non-existent agency, appears before lawmakers for questioning. Adeyemi has been in police custody for over two weeks due to suspicions relating to fraudulently establishing the agency.
Testimonies from various top officials have already been received, including the Head of the Civil Service and representatives from the Central Bank of Nigeria, yet concerns have emerged regarding the lack of questioning directed towards Gbajabiamila, especially as Adeyemi’s statements reportedly link him to the council’s creation. A significant issue raised was the mysterious death of a key middleman, Dolapo Tanimola, who allegedly received a large sum from Adeyemi intended for Gbajabiamila. The circumstances surrounding Tanimola’s death and the subsequent demolition of the hotel where he died have raised additional concerns about integrity and accountability within the investigative process.
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has called for Gbajabiamila to step down until the investigation concludes, criticizing his office for administrative failures that allowed fraudulent activities to take place. Moreover, HEDA urged that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, be summoned as well, given his office’s potential complicity in the affair.
During the latest committee hearing, police confirmed ongoing criminal proceedings against Adeyemi, which include allegations of presenting himself as the Director-General of multiple non-existent councils to secure unauthorized accommodations and budget allocations. The committee highlighted the discovery of numerous forged documents, including counterfeit governmental approvals, which were allegedly used to sustain the fraudulent agency’s operation. The Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the necessity of Adeyemi’s appearance to uphold institutional integrity while navigating sensitive matters that could interfere with ongoing police investigations.
