The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged establishment of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) without legal backing has summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, to explain the council’s activities and the government’s response to it.
The House of Representatives has summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, as part of its ongoing investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), which lawmakers say allegedly operated despite questions over its legal status.
The summons was issued by the House Ad-hoc Committee chaired by Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, which is probing the circumstances surrounding the creation and activities of the PFIPC, following claims that the council lacked any legal basis for its operations.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Distances Itself from PFIPC
During the committee’s hearing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied recognising the PFIPC or its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, told lawmakers that Adeyemi approached the ministry on three occasions seeking official collaboration and endorsement for a proposed World Investment Summit.
According to him, the ministry became suspicious of the requests and wrote to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in October 2025 to verify Adeyemi’s claims and the status of the council.
NSA Asked to Explain Response
Lawmakers are seeking clarification from the NSA on what action the office took after receiving the ministry’s request.
Documents presented before the committee indicate that the ONSA later informed the ministry that the PFIPC was not a recognised government body.
The committee said Ribadu’s appearance is necessary to explain how the alleged council continued operating despite that position.
Reps Warn MDAs Against Ignoring Summons
The committee also expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to honour previous invitations.
Chairman Yusuf Gagdi warned that any government institution or official that fails to appear before the panel with requested documents could face constitutional sanctions for obstructing the investigation.
The House gave defaulting agencies a final deadline to comply voluntarily.
PFIPC Controversy Deepens
The PFIPC controversy has generated national attention following allegations that the body engaged with government institutions and foreign organisations despite questions surrounding its legal existence.
The Presidency had earlier publicly distanced itself from the council, while investigations have since focused on how the organisation allegedly secured official engagements and appeared in government records.
Meanwhile, the investigation has expanded beyond the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the NSA, with lawmakers also seeking explanations from other agencies over their interactions with the controversial body.