By Olueakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged Presidential Fiscal Policy and Investment Council (PFIPC) says it has uncovered what appears to be widespread document forgery, including the creation of a non-existent department in the State House.
The committee made the disclosure on Wednesday at the resumed public hearing in Abuja, while interrogating the head of the civil service of the federation, Didi Walson-Jack and officals from the office of the accountant general of the federation.
However the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who were expected to appear before the panel, did not attend the resumed hearing.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, said the panel has established how documents used to legitimise the purported council were generated and traced what it described as forged official correspondence.
“We have established where the budget emanated, how it emanated and the documents forged to disguise public office orders,” Gagdi said.
He alleged that investigators also uncovered the creation of fictitious offices within the Presidency.
“We have equally discovered the creation of fictitious names in the Villa, in the State House, that do not exist at all,” he said.
Gagdi further disclosed that the committee has identified several documents allegedly forged in the name of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
“It is not only one letter. There are 19 different reports emanating and forging the signature of the Chief of Staff,” he said.
He urged Nigerians not to politicise the investigation but allow the committee to conclude its work based on the evidence before it.
“We should not be carried away by politics or hatred for an institution like the National Assembly or the government of the day and lose sight of the real facts of the matter,” he said.
Gagdi said the committee would seek further clarifications from the affected agencies through written correspondence and closed-door engagements before concluding its assignment.
“There may not be a need for another public hearing because of the limited time we have. We will request further reports, clarify outstanding issues and submit our preliminary findings to Nigerians next week,” he said.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Olufemi Akinola of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), who represented the Inspector-General of Police, explained why the principal suspect was not produced before the committee.
Reading a letter on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Akinola said the suspect remains in police custody under a subsisting court order and could only be produced upon the issuance of a production warrant by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The Nigeria Police Force acknowledges the constitutional oversight of the House of Representatives and remains committed to cooperate with the committee in the discharge of its mandate. However, in this case, it will be appreciated if a production warrant will be sought from the court of competent jurisdiction to enable the police comply with this request,” the letter stated.
Responding, Gagdi said the committee understood the police’s position and would not interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings.
“The police did not refuse to produce the suspect. He is in custody based on a subsisting court order. We are mindful of the principle of separation of powers and do not want to interfere with matters already before the court,” he said.
He added that the committee was also mindful of the ongoing investigations by the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“We should help these agencies to do their job without compromising their investigations,” Gagdi said.
The committee announced that the remaining phase of the investigation would be conducted through closed-door sessions with relevant agencies before it presents its preliminary findings to the public next week and subsequently submits its report to the House of Representatives
