The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee, currently investigating the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), has officially summoned the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Lawmakers are seeking clarity on why the PFIPC was permitted to operate despite earlier flags regarding its lack of legal status.
The investigation follows testimony from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by Permanent Secretary Dunoma Umar Ahmed. The ministry confirmed that it had no relationship with the entity, which was promoted by one Prince Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi. The ministry had previously alerted the Office of the National Security Adviser after observing irregularities and confirming through the Presidency that the individual and the council were not recognized by the Federal Government.
Committee members expressed frustration that, despite this confirmation, the entity was still able to conduct activities and interact with foreign nationals. The committee chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, noted that the security office should have taken active steps to halt the organization once it was identified as illegal. The inquiry also addressed the failure of several government agencies to appear before the committee, which the chairman labeled as an affront to legislative oversight. A final ultimatum has been issued for relevant heads of agencies to appear in person on Thursday, with warnings that further non-compliance will trigger constitutional sanctions.
