FRSC Explains Approval Of Number Plates For Seven PFIPC Vehicles Amid Reps Probe
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has explained the circumstances surrounding its approval of number plates for seven vehicles linked to the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), saying the organisation appeared to be a legitimate government entity when the application was processed.
The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, gave the explanation while appearing before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the activities of the PFIPC.
Mohammed said the FRSC received an application from the organisation on April 4, 2025, followed by a reminder dated April 11. According to him, the applications were accompanied by documents purporting to establish the council, its mandate, governing structure and details of the seven vehicles for which official number plates were requested.
He explained that the agency did not rely solely on the documents submitted by the organisation, saying its officials also examined the PFIPC website, which used a federal government domain, and visited its office at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.
According to the Corps Marshal, the checks carried out by the agency gave officials the impression that the organisation was a legitimate government entity.
Mohammed further told the lawmakers that the FRSC verified the chassis numbers of the seven vehicles before approving the requested number plates, adding that the approval was based on the information and verification available to the agency at the time.
He said the agency was subsequently surprised when questions emerged over the status of the PFIPC and whether it was an authorised federal government agency.
The FRSC boss said the agency had since commenced the retrieval of the official number plates issued to the seven vehicles and had also strengthened its verification procedures to prevent a recurrence.
During the hearing, committee chairman Yusuf Gagdi raised questions about some of the documents submitted by the PFIPC, including one which purportedly listed President Bola Tinubu and other senior government officials as members of its governing board.
The officials reportedly listed in the document included Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; the Attorney General of the Federation and ministers overseeing various portfolios.
Gagdi questioned why the FRSC did not seek further confirmation from relevant government authorities after receiving a document that purportedly named the President and other senior officials as members of the council’s governing board.
The committee chairman also raised concerns about the nature of some of the documents submitted to the FRSC, including the purported mandate of the organisation.
“We are trying to expose the leakages so that agencies can close these gaps going forward. It is not to indict anybody,” Gagdi said.
Mohammed, however, maintained that the FRSC followed its established procedures in processing the application and carrying out the checks that preceded the approval of the number plates.
He said the agency had taken steps to retrieve the plates issued to the seven vehicles and improve its verification process following the concerns raised over the organisation.
Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reportedly recommended the prosecution of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi in connection with the activities of the PFIPC.
Adeniyi had reportedly claimed that Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, issued an appointment letter relating to his position. Gbajabiamila, however, denied the claim.
The ICPC reportedly cleared the Presidency and the Central Bank of Nigeria of wrongdoing while identifying institutional lapses involving some ministries, departments and agencies.
The House committee is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC, including the documents presented by the organisation, its dealings with government agencies and the process through which the seven vehicles obtained official number plates.
Source: The Cable