Reps Give MDAs 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Probe of Alleged Fake Presidential Agency

By Victor Idajili

The House of Representatives has intensified its investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, PFIPC, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to Ministries, Departments and Agencies accused of frustrating the probe.

The ad-hoc committee handling the matter warned on Tuesday that it would invoke its constitutional powers to compel compliance if defaulting agencies fail to appear with the required officials and documents.

  
Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, said the refusal of some MDAs to honour invitations amounts to a direct challenge to the oversight authority 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,” Gagdi said.

He reminded the agencies that invitations issued by House committees are backed by Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution and are legally binding.

“It must be clearly understood that invitations issued by a duly constituted Committee of the House of Representatives are not matters of discretion. Compliance is therefore a legal obligation, not an act of courtesy,” he added.

The committee directed all defaulting MDAs to appear on Thursday with relevant officials and documents. Gagdi described it as the “final opportunity” for voluntary compliance.

“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 to compel compliance. The Committee will not hesitate to recommend and pursue every sanction permitted by law,” he warned.

Gagdi stressed that the investigation is aimed at establishing facts about PFIPC and protecting public institutions, not at victimising anyone.

  
The probe was launched amid allegations that PFIPC operated as a government agency despite questions over its legal foundation. 

At previous hearings, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs told lawmakers it neither recognised the council nor had dealings with its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi. The ministry also said the Office of the National Security Adviser informed it that both the alleged official and the council were unknown to government.

The Central Bank of Nigeria told the committee that accounts reportedly linked to the agency were opened on the directive of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, but had zero balances and no transactions.

The committee has also received submissions from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General as it seeks to establish how the agency appeared in official records.

Lawmakers also summoned Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu to appear in person, despite the ministry sending a representative on Tuesday.

 
Senior lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has withdrawn from representing Adeyemi. He confirmed the development on Tuesday, but did not give reasons. 

Sources said the withdrawal followed Adeyemi’s decision to grant a social media interview despite legal advice, and his indication that he would not appear in court on July 27 for his scheduled arraignment.

Adeyemi is facing allegations of forgery, impersonation and conspiracy in connection with PFIPC. He has denied the charges. The Federal High Court in Abuja is handling the criminal proceedings, while the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies continue investigations.

The controversy deepened after claims that PFIPC appeared in the 2025 Appropriation act despite having no legal basis.

  
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore on Tuesday challenged the ICPC to release the full, unedited video of its interrogation of Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the PFIPC investigation.

Sowore, in a post on X, dismissed the commission’s explanation that Gbajabiamila only 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,” he wrote.

The ICPC had earlier said Gbajabiamila voluntarily appeared at its headquarters on Monday and responded to questions before leaving.

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