The House of Representatives has intensified its investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), giving Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) a 48-hour deadline to appear before its ad hoc committee or face sanctions for failing to cooperate with the probe.
The lawmakers are investigating the alleged establishment, funding and operations of the council, which is accused of operating as a government agency despite concerns that it had no legal backing. The probe is also examining how the organisation appeared in official government records and whether any public institutions aided its activities.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the House Ad-hoc Committee, chaired by Yusuf Gagdi, issued the ultimatum after accusing some MDAs of frustrating its investigation by ignoring invitations and failing to submit requested documents.
Gagdi described the actions of the affected agencies as a direct challenge to the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly.
“The committee views this conduct as a serious affront to the constitutional oversight powers of the House of Representatives and an unacceptable disregard for the authority of the parliament, which represents the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” he said.
He reminded all government agencies that invitations from committees of the House are backed by the Constitution and are not optional.
“It must be clearly understood that invitations issued by a duly constituted Committee of the House of Representatives are not matters of discretion. They are issued pursuant to the constitutional powers vested in the National Assembly under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Compliance is therefore a legal obligation, not an act of courtesy,” Gagdi stated.
The committee directed all defaulting ministries, departments and agencies to appear before it on Thursday with all relevant officials and documents previously requested, describing the hearing as their final opportunity to comply voluntarily.
“Thursday is the final opportunity for every defaulting agency to comply voluntarily with the lawful directives of this Committee,” Gagdi warned.
He added that any agency that failed to honour the invitation without lawful justification would face the full weight of the law.
“Any ministry, department or agency that fails to appear without lawful justification will leave the committee with no alternative but to invoke every constitutional and statutory power available to the House of Representatives to compel compliance and ensure accountability. The Committee will not hesitate to recommend and pursue every sanction permitted by law against any person or institution that deliberately obstructs or frustrates this investigation,” he said.
The committee maintained that the investigation was not intended to victimise anyone but to establish the facts surrounding the PFIPC and protect the integrity of public administration.
“This investigation is in the national interest. It is not targeted at any individual or institution but is aimed at establishing the facts, protecting the integrity of public administration, safeguarding the rule of law, and ensuring that no public office or institution operates outside the framework of the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Gagdi said.
He further assured that the panel would conduct its work professionally and impartially, insisting that no government agency would be allowed to undermine the constitutional authority of the House.
The latest development comes as the committee continues to investigate how the PFIPC allegedly operated despite lacking legal recognition. During previous hearings, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs told lawmakers that it neither recognised the council nor had any official dealings with its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The ministry also disclosed that the Office of the National Security Adviser informed it that both Adeyemi and the council were unknown to the Federal Government.
The committee has also insisted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, must personally appear before it despite the ministry sending a representative to Tuesday’s hearing.
Officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria also informed the lawmakers that bank accounts reportedly linked to the PFIPC were opened on the directive of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation but had zero balances and recorded no financial transactions.
The House has also received submissions from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and other government institutions as it seeks to determine how the agency allegedly found its way into official government documents despite questions over its legal status.
The investigation is taking place alongside a separate probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which recently confirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, voluntarily honoured an invitation and was questioned as part of the ongoing investigation into the PFIPC scandal.
Meanwhile, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has withdrawn from representing Adeyemi, who is facing criminal charges over allegations including forgery, impersonation and conspiracy. Adeyemi has denied the allegations and is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja, while investigations by security agencies and the National Assembly continue.
