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 (MDAs) accused of frustrating the probe while insisting that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, personally appear before its committee.
The development came as Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, withdrew from representing the alleged Director-General of the disputed council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, adding a fresh twist to the controversy surrounding the agency.
The House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged establishment, funding and operations of the PFIPC warned that defaulting MDAs must appear before it on Thursday with all requested officials and documents or face constitutional sanctions.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, described the refusal of some agencies to honour invitations 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,” Gagdi said.
He reminded the affected agencies that invitations issued by committees of the House are backed by Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) 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 a legal obligation, not an act of courtesy,” he added.
Gagdi described Thursday’s hearing as the final opportunity for the defaulting agencies to comply voluntarily, warning that the committee would invoke all constitutional and statutory powers available to compel attendance and recommend sanctions against any institution or official found obstructing the investigation.
He stressed that the inquiry was not intended to victimise any individual or institution but to establish the facts surrounding the PFIPC, safeguard public administration and ensure no government office operates outside the law.
Despite the attendance of a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Tuesday’s hearing, the committee insisted that Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu must personally appear before the panel.
The committee’s investigation follows allegations that the PFIPC operated as a government agency despite questions over its legal foundation and how it allegedly found its way into official government records.
At an earlier hearing, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs told lawmakers 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 the council and Adeyemi were unknown to the Federal Government.
As part of the investigation, the committee has 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.
Officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria also informed lawmakers that bank accounts reportedly opened in the name of the council were created on the directive of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation but had zero balances and recorded no financial transactions.
Lawmakers are examining how the agency allegedly gained recognition in official records, the circumstances surrounding the opening of the accounts and whether any public institution facilitated its activities.
Meanwhile, Falana confirmed on Tuesday that he had withdrawn from Adeyemi’s legal team.
“I have withdrawn from the Adeyemi case,” the senior lawyer told The PUNCH, declining to give reasons for his decision.
However, a source familiar with the matter said Falana, who had taken up the case pro bono, advised Adeyemi against granting media interviews while investigations and court proceedings were ongoing.
According to the source, Adeyemi ignored the advice and later appeared in an Instagram Live interview with social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
The source further disclosed that Falana eventually withdrew after Adeyemi informed him he would not appear in court on July 27, the scheduled date for his arraignment.
The PFIPC controversy erupted after allegations emerged that the agency, under which Adeyemi claimed to serve as Director-General, lacked legal backing despite reportedly appearing in the 2025 Appropriation Act.
Adeyemi is facing allegations of forgery, impersonation and conspiracy, claims he has denied.
The Federal High Court in Abuja is handling criminal proceedings arising from the case, while the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies continue separate investigations.
As of the time of filing this report, Adeyemi and his associates had not publicly responded to Falana’s withdrawal.
