PFIPC Probe: Reps Panel Reschedules NSA, Foreign Affairs Minister, Others’ Appearance

The House of Representatives The Committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) has rescheduled the appearance of National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and other heads of agencies before it today.

NSA Ribadu, Minister Ojukwu and others were to appear before the panel yesterday, but the investigative hearing did not hold as rescheduled.

However, the Committee, in an invitation extended to parliamentary reporters late last night, said it will meet with invited stakeholders in hearing room 028 today at 10:30 am.

“The House Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Unestablished Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the Federal Budget Framework will meet with invited stakeholders.

Date: Friday, 24 July 2026.

Venue: 028. Time: 10:30,” the invitation read.

While the real reason for the postponement could not be established, the development may not be unconnected with the long hours of plenary sitting yesterday.

The investigative hearing was initially scheduled for 12 pm and later moved to 2 pm, but after more than an hour, there were no signs that the meeting would begin soon.

At the time our correspondent left the hearing venue, those invited, particularly the NSA and the Foreign Affairs Minister, were not physically present, and it was unclear whether they sent representatives, as there was no introduction of the persons present.

Except for some secretariat staff of the panel who were seen around the venue, the Committee’s Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), and its members were not seen.

The Committee’s Clerk, Baba Kaigama, had yet to respond to inquiries about why the meeting was not held, and those heads of agencies present at the time of going to press.

Yesterday’s plenary lasted till about 4 pm as lawmakers considered several reports, including that of the Committee on Constitution Review, on a Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for the Establishment of State Police Services, which was eventually passed.

LEADERSHIP reports that NSA Ribadu, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojukwu, and other heads of agencies were to appear before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) today.

Ribadu was to appear before the panel at 12:00 noon to explain the actions taken by his office after confirming that the PFIPC was not a recognised government institution.

Ojukwu was also to appear before the Committee to provide further clarification on issues arising from the Ministry’s submissions on the matter.

The lawmakers’ decision to summon the NSA and the Minister followed the revelations by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, appeared before the Hon. Yusuf Gagdi-led committee on Tuesday.

Ahmed, who represented the Minister, said the Ministry never had any official dealings with the council or its alleged Director-General, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, whose identity was confirmed by security authorities as being unknown to the Federal Government.

The permanent stated that the Ministry had written to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on 16 October 2025, requesting clarification on the status of Prince Adeyemi as Director-General of the PFIPC.

He informed the Committee that the Office of the National Security Adviser replied on 26 November 2025, conveying that enquiries made with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President established that Adeyemi was unknown to any office of the Federal Government.

Ahmed said this was after Ministry declined all three requests after conducting due diligence, citing inconsistencies and discrepancies in the correspondence submitted by the self-acclaimed Director-General, as well as concerns about the legitimacy of both the council and its purported leadership.

“It is pertinent to state that, having discovered the discrepancies in the requests submitted by Prince Adeyemi, the Ministry, on 16 October 2025, wrote a letter to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), requesting clarification on the status of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew as Director-General of the PFIPC.

“In response, the ONSA reverted to the Ministry on 26 November 2025, indicating that the responses it received from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and Chief of Staff (CoS) to Mr President revealed that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew is unknown to any office of the Federal Government,” he stated.

In his response to the disclosure, the Committee’s Chairman Gagdi expressed concern over the revelation that the Office of the National Security Adviser had, as far back as November 2025, established that the Federal Government did not recognise the alleged Director-General and the purported council.

He questioned the steps taken by the nation’s security architecture in the wake of the discovery. He stressed that the Committee was duty-bound to ascertain whether appropriate action had been taken to prevent the organisation’s activities.

Gagdi said the invitations extended to Ribadu and Ojukwu were necessary because the Committee needed to determine what actions the Office of the National Security Adviser took after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised concerns about the organisation’s authenticity.

“It is now the duty of the Committee to move further and invite the Office of the National Security Adviser to come and answer the very important question raised by Honourable Abubakar Fulata that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a letter from this agency under investigation, whether it exists or it doesn’t exist.

“What have you done as an office that has the power and capacity to carry out further investigation in respect of this matter? He is to appear before this Committee because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received correspondence from the suspended Director-General that raises suspicions of foul play and discrepancies.

“The NSA responded that it is an illegal agency. What has the Office of the National Security Adviser done as a security institution after that discovery? If they had discovered that the agency did not exist, appropriate action ought to have been taken. They should come before this Committee and explain the actions they have taken,” he added.

Meanwhile, the panel expressed its profound disappointment over the failure of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to honour the Committee’s invitations.

It criticised the absence of the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, who was represented by a ministry official, insisting that invited officials must appear in person before the Committee or risk further legislative action.

The Committee viewed 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.

In a statement, the panel insisted that the invitations issued by a duly constituted Committee of the House of Representatives are not matters of discretion.

“They are issued pursuant to the constitutional powers vested in the National Assembly under Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Compliance is therefore a legal obligation, not an act of courtesy.

“Accordingly, the Committee hereby issues this as the final notice to all defaulting Ministries, Departments and Agencies. They are directed to appear before the Committee on Thursday with all relevant officers and documents requested in the Committee’s correspondence.

“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.

“The Committee will not hesitate to recommend and pursue every sanction permitted by law against any person or institution that deliberately obstructs or frustrates this investigation.

“This investigation is in the national interest. It is not targeted at any individual or institution. Still, 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.

“The Committee remains committed to conducting this assignment professionally, fairly, transparently and without fear or favour. However, no agency of government, regardless of its status or perceived influence, will be permitted to undermine the constitutional authority of the House of Representatives or frustrate the discharge of its legislative responsibilities,” the panel added.

The House had set up an Ad Hoc committee to investigate how the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) entered the 2026 Appropriation framework.