PFIPC Probe Deepens as Reps Give MDAs 48-Hour Deadline

The House of Representatives on Tuesday stepped up its investigation into the alleged operations of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), giving Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) 48 hours to appear before its ad-hoc committee or face legal consequences. The lawmakers are examining how the council allegedly operated as a government agency despite questions surrounding its legal status and how it found its way into official government records.

The committee, led by Yusuf Gagdi, said some government institutions had failed to honour invitations and submit documents requested during the investigation. He said such actions amounted to a disregard for the constitutional oversight powers of the National Assembly and warned that any agency that failed to appear at the next hearing would face sanctions allowed by law.

The committee directed all affected MDAs to appear before it on Thursday with the required officials and documents. It described the hearing as the final opportunity for the agencies to cooperate before stronger legal steps are taken to compel compliance.

Lawmakers maintained that the investigation is aimed at establishing the facts surrounding the council’s activities, protecting public institutions and ensuring that no government body operates outside the law. They also assured Nigerians that the probe would be carried out fairly and without bias.

As part of the ongoing inquiry, the committee insisted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, must personally appear before it, even though the ministry had already sent a representative. Earlier submissions from the ministry stated that it had no official relationship with the PFIPC and that the Office of the National Security Adviser had informed it that both the council and its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, were unknown to the Federal Government.

The investigation has also included testimonies from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. The CBN told lawmakers that accounts linked to the council were opened following instructions from the Accountant-General’s office but remained inactive with no deposits or withdrawals.

Attention also shifted to Adeyemi’s legal battle after Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, withdrew from representing him. Falana confirmed his decision but did not explain why he stepped away from the case.

However, a source familiar with the matter disclosed that Falana had advised Adeyemi against granting media interviews while the case was ongoing. The source said Adeyemi ignored the advice by participating in a live interview with social media personality Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan. The source also claimed Falana decided to withdraw after Adeyemi informed him that he would not appear in court on the scheduled arraignment date.

The PFIPC controversy has continued to attract national attention following allegations that the council operated without legal backing despite appearing in government records. Adeyemi has denied allegations of forgery, impersonation and conspiracy filed against him, while criminal proceedings continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja alongside investigations by security agencies.

Meanwhile, human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to release the full video of its questioning of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Sowore questioned the commission’s statement that Gbajabiamila only honoured an invitation and urged it to make the complete recording public.

The ICPC had earlier clarified that Gbajabiamila was not arrested but voluntarily appeared before investigators, answered questions relating to the PFIPC investigation and returned to his official duties after making his statement.