- Reps summon Accountant-General over PFIPC funding
- The committee probes the council’s legal status
- Officials are questioned over budget approval
The House of Representatives committee investigating the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) is set to invite the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, as the probe into the council enters its third week.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the ad hoc committee, led by Yusuf Gagdi, who represents Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, is examining how an organisation described by the Federal Government as non-existent allegedly operated from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and received more than N1.32bn allocation in the 2026 budget.
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The investigation has attracted public attention over concerns about how an entity without clear legal backing was able to access government facilities and secure funding through official channels.
Ogunjimi is expected to provide explanations on how the PFIPC obtained a government budget code that allowed it to be captured in the national expenditure plan despite questions surrounding its establishment and legitimacy.
His appearance before the lawmakers is expected to shed more light on the financial processes and approvals that enabled the council to become part of the government’s budget structure.
Since the commencement of the inquiry, the committee has received testimonies from several senior government officials, revealing possible weaknesses in administrative procedures that may have allowed the organisation to operate within government structures.
Officials who have appeared before the committee include the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack; Central Bank of Nigeria Director of Banking Services, Abdullahi Hamisu; and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu.
Their presentations focused on how the organisation was able to move through government systems, secure official recognition documents and access administrative processes despite disputes over its legal status.
The probe gained further attention following the arrest of Adeyemi Adeniyi, who identified himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC.
Adeniyi was detained by the Nigeria Police Force after allegedly claiming that he paid N400m through an intermediary to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to secure his appointment as head of the council.
The allegation sparked widespread reactions due to the potential implications for transparency and accountability within government operations.
However, the Presidency and Gbajabiamila have denied any involvement with Adeniyi or the alleged payment. The Presidency described him as an impostor, while the Chief of Staff rejected the claims as false.
The Federal Government has maintained that the PFIPC is not a legally established agency, raising questions over how it obtained office space, processed official documents and secured funding in the federal budget.
The committee is expected to establish whether administrative errors, oversight failures or deliberate actions contributed to the council’s emergence and operations.
Other officials expected to appear before the panel include Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele; and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.
Their testimonies will help lawmakers determine whether proper procedures were followed and whether any officials played a role in facilitating the council’s activities.
The committee has assured Nigerians that the investigation will be conducted transparently, adding that anyone found responsible for wrongdoing will face appropriate action.
Lawmakers said the aim of the probe is to protect public resources, strengthen government systems and prevent similar controversies in the future
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