By Aaron Ossai
The Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbenga Collins, on Tuesday told the House of Representatives that he allegedly paid N400 million to the purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, after being promised a contract to renovate and furnish what was presented as the official residence of the agency’s chief executive.
Appearing before the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged establishment and operations of the PFIPC, chaired by Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, Collins said his familiarity with Adeyemi, whom he described as a fellow indigene of Ogbomoso, along with the apparent trappings of government authority surrounding him, convinced him that the council was a legitimate Federal Government institution.
Collins, who identified himself as the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, said his company, established in October 2017, operates in the agribusiness sector, sourcing agricultural produce from farmers for export.
A graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, he told lawmakers that he first met Adeyemi in December 2024 during a programme in Ogbomoso. According to him, Adeyemi later invited him to Abuja around January or February 2025 to discuss what was described as a business opportunity.
On arriving at the Abuja airport, Collins said an official vehicle picked him up and took him to Adeyemi’s office at the Federal Secretariat.
“When I arrived at the airport, he sent an official car to pick me up and take me to his office at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja,” he said.
Collins told the committee that he met several prominent individuals and security personnel at the office, reinforcing his belief that Adeyemi occupied a legitimate government position.
“He is a well-known man in Ogbomoso. I met a lot of people, very big dignitaries in his office, and I met a group of security officers guarding the office,” he added.
According to Collins, Adeyemi introduced himself as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).
He said it was his first visit to Abuja, and the presence of security personnel, government vehicles and what appeared to be an operational government office gave him no reason to question Adeyemi’s claims.
“I saw police officers with him. That was my first time of coming to Abuja because I’m not familiar with Abuja very well. He sent his official car to pick me from the airport. It had a Federal Government registration number attached to the Lexus SUV,” Collins testified.
He further alleged that Adeyemi later informed him of plans to renovate and furnish the official residence allocated to him as Director-General and offered his company the contract.
