Reps Tighten Noose on Alleged Fake Agency, Hand MDAs 48-Hour Deadline
Reps Tighten Noose on Alleged Fake Agency, Hand MDAs 48-Hour Deadline
By Frontline Reporters
The House of Representatives on Tuesday intensified its probe into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) accused of frustrating its investigation into the alleged agency’s existence, funding and operations.
The development marks a fresh escalation in the widening scandal surrounding the PFIPC, an organisation alleged to have operated as a government agency despite lingering questions over its legal status and constitutional backing.
Adding more intrigue to the controversy, the House committee insisted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, must personally appear before lawmakers despite the ministry sending a representative to Tuesday’s hearing. The day also witnessed another dramatic twist as Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, SAN, withdrew from the legal team of the alleged Director-General of the council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged establishment, funding and operations of the PFIPC warned that any MDA that fails to comply with its summons within 48 hours would face constitutional sanctions.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, described the refusal of several agencies to honour invitations as a direct affront 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 Parliament, which represents the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” Gagdi declared.
He reminded the affected agencies that invitations issued by committees of the House are legally binding under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“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 constitutional powers vested in the National Assembly. Compliance is therefore a legal obligation, not an act of courtesy,” he stated.
The committee subsequently directed all defaulting MDAs to appear before it on Thursday with all requested officials and documents, 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 further cautioned that the House would invoke its full constitutional and statutory powers against any institution or individual found obstructing the investigation.
“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,” he added.
Gagdi maintained that the investigation is not intended to witch-hunt any individual or institution but to establish the facts surrounding the PFIPC and preserve the integrity of public administration.
“This investigation is in the national interest. It 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,” he said.
The committee reaffirmed its determination to conduct the probe professionally and without fear or favour, insisting that no government agency, regardless of its influence, would be allowed to undermine the authority of the legislature.
The warning comes amid mounting scrutiny of the PFIPC, whose legal standing has remained under the spotlight following allegations that it functioned as a government body without formal establishment.
At previous sittings, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed lawmakers that it neither recognised the council nor had any official relationship with its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The ministry further disclosed that the Office of the National Security Adviser had informed it that both Adeyemi and the council were unknown to the Federal Government.
Lawmakers are now seeking to determine whether any public officials or institutions aided the activities of the organisation and whether legislative or criminal actions should follow.
In another revelation during the hearings, officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria told the committee that bank accounts reportedly linked to the agency were opened on the directive of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation but had maintained zero balances and recorded no transactions.
The committee has also received submissions from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Accountant-General and other key institutions as it investigates how the PFIPC allegedly found its way into official government records despite concerns over its legitimacy.
The inquiry has further examined the circumstances surrounding the opening of bank accounts in the agency’s name, its appearance in government documents and allegations made by Adeyemi against senior public officials.
Falana Bows Out
In a significant development, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, SAN, confirmed that he has withdrawn from representing Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
“I have withdrawn from the Adeyemi case,” Falana told our correspondent on Tuesday.
The senior lawyer declined to disclose the reasons for his decision.
However, sources familiar with the matter disclosed that Falana, who reportedly took up the matter pro bono, had advised Adeyemi to refrain from granting media interviews to avoid complicating his legal situation.
Despite the advice, Adeyemi reportedly participated in an Instagram Live session with social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
Sources further alleged that Falana’s decision was ultimately influenced by Adeyemi’s indication that he would not appear in court on July 27, the scheduled date for his arraignment.
Falana’s withdrawal comes weeks after he publicly criticised the handling of the investigation by the police, particularly the reported arrest of Adeyemi’s father, which he argued violated constitutional safeguards.
The controversy surrounding the PFIPC erupted following claims that the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council—under which Adeyemi allegedly served as Director-General—had no legal basis despite reportedly appearing in the 2025 Appropriation Act.
The scandal deepened after allegations of forgery, impersonation and conspiracy were levelled against Adeyemi. He has denied all allegations.
Criminal proceedings arising from the matter are currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja, while the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies continue parallel investigations.
Sowore Challenges ICPC
Meanwhile, activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has challenged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to release the full, unedited video of its interrogation of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Sowore dismissed the commission’s explanation that Gbajabiamila merely honoured an invitation.
“If the ICPC truly interrogated Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, they should release the full, unedited video recording to the public now. All these gimmicks won’t work. We know this is just another smokescreen,” Sowore wrote.
His comments followed the ICPC’s clarification that Gbajabiamila was not arrested but voluntarily honoured an invitation from investigators regarding the PFIPC investigation.
According to the anti-graft agency, the Chief of Staff appeared at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, responded to questions concerning the ongoing investigation and departed after making his statement.
As investigations continue, the PFIPC saga is increasingly evolving into one of the most contentious public administration controversies in recent times, raising critical questions about transparency, accountability and the processes through which institutions are established and recognised within Nigeria’s federal system
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